Three New Arts

Three New Arts

Han Yi reviewed all the information on the proficiency panel, a satisfied look appearing on his face.

Ever since advancing to Qi Refining Layer 6 and failing to secure a spot on an Inner Peak, Han Yi had not lost heart.

Instead, he had trained desperately on one hand while broadening his repertoire of techniques on the other.

Of his original four skills, he practiced the Sword Control Technique most diligently. This technique suited both long-range attacks and close combat, and its power was immense, so he had invested the most time in it.

Moreover.

The mid-grade sword artifact he had purchased, the Shadowless Sword, had also been bought with the Sword Control Technique in mind.

The three daggers he had obtained by chance in Mengshan City years ago were Low-grade Magic Artifacts, and weaker ones even among Low-grade Magic Artifacts. They were adequate against Qi Refining Middle Stage cultivators, but against experts at Qi Refining Layer 7 or above, they proved insufficient.

That was why Han Yi had spent a hefty sum to purchase the Shadowless Sword, giving himself a powerful addition.

A man without foresight would find trouble close at hand. This was one of the many preparations born from his years of caution and his constant efforts to pile his strength ever higher.

Iron had to be hard before it could be forged. Han Yi understood that principle.

Besides the Sword Control Technique, the Spirit Void Finger served as a supplement. It could be unleashed in a shorter time, and even under instinctive control, it could strike before the Sword Control Technique. It counted as another layer of insurance.

Additionally.

The Alchemy Technique, as one of his primary cultivation arts, was mainly for making money—earning spirit stones to support his cultivation.

As a movement technique, the Body Lightening Technique allowed him to flee swiftly when the situation turned against him, and to evade attacks in battle. It was also an indispensable art.

The Alchemy Technique, Sword Control Technique, Spirit Void Finger, and Body Lightening Technique—these four had all reached Peak Mastery over a year ago. Their progress had varied over the past year, but their importance in Han Yi's heart went without saying.

Beyond these four techniques, Han Yi had also selectively expanded his repertoire over the past year.

The Fire Shield Technique was a fire-element defensive spell. Han Yi happened to possess a Fire Spirit Root, and he had spent over two hundred spirit stones to buy this technique. For his current self, spending more than two hundred spirit stones was no longer much of a burden.

When activated, this technique formed a shield of flame before him, blocking enemy attacks.

The Turtle Breath Technique, like the Spirit Void Finger, was merely an entry-level technique. Yet if cultivated to the extreme, it was likewise not to be underestimated, for it could conceal one's aura.

It was temporarily useless within the Mystic Pill Sect, and even when entering the market district, there were special masks that could mask one's aura. Still, Han Yi had cultivated it because he had envisioned certain situations where the Turtle Breath Technique would be needed.

Furthermore, this technique was not difficult to cultivate, yet its effects were excellent.

He had once tested it. A Turtle Breath Technique at the Intermediate level was already enough to prevent someone at Qi Refining Layer 6 from detecting Han Yi's aura even when he stood right beside them.

The third newly added technique was the Talisman Making Technique.

Also one of the hundred arts of cultivation, it was Han Yi's new endeavor beyond the Alchemy Technique.

The art of talismans, like the art of alchemy, was vast and profound.

Moreover, to a certain extent, talisman arts provided a more obvious and far more powerful immediate boost to combat strength than pills did.

Among the pills Han Yi had encountered, only the Breakthrough Pill currently possessed the effect of temporarily increasing combat strength.

Talisman arts were different. In battle, throwing out a talisman prepared beforehand could instantly raise one's combat power.

Powerful talismans, Golden Light Talismans, Thunder Talismans, Spirit Binding Talismans, Killing Sword Talismans...

The sight of these talismans had made Han Yi's eyes turn red with envy.

Unfortunately.

Talisman arts were even harder to begin than alchemy. Even with the system and grinding proficiency, his improvement remained slow.

Most importantly, Han Yi needed to spend most of his time cultivating and practicing his other techniques. Only a small portion of his squeezed-out time could be used to practice talisman making.

Thus, the results had been meager. After more than a year, he was only at: First Glimpse 19/100.

At this level, making Cleaning Talismans, Light Talismans, and Explosion Talismans came quite naturally to him. But when it came to crafting talismans with greater power, he fell short.

For now, that was enough.

Finally, the cultivation method he practiced, the Fire Pill Profound Art, had advanced from the proficient level into Subtlety.

The improvement of his cultivation method let Han Yi absorb spiritual energy faster, and accordingly, his cultivation speed had also increased.

It had originally taken six or even eight years to break through to Qi Refining Layer 7. Now, by his estimate, he would only need three or four years to advance.

This counted as one of his greatest gains over the past year.

Han Yi's eyes flickered. With a thought, the translucent panel before him shrank away and vanished.

Then, with a sword fastened at his waist, he walked out of the courtyard.

The moment he stepped outside, he saw a dark-faced young man approaching him. Han Yi froze for a moment, then could not help but grin.

That dark-faced young man was, of course, Zheng Hai.

And Han Yi had not seen Zheng Hai for more than a year.

Over a year ago, before the Inner Peak positions had opened up, Zheng Hai had applied for an external assignment. Han Yi had only learned this afterward by asking around.

Han Yi could not understand whether water had gotten into this guy's brain for him to actually apply for an external assignment himself.

But by the time Han Yi found out, Zheng Hai had already descended the mountain and registered his information at the Administration Hall. There was no taking it back, so Han Yi could only let it go.

"Zheng Hai, you finally decided to come back." A smile tugged at Han Yi's lips, and he made no effort to hide the teasing in his expression.

At those words, Zheng Hai's face immediately fell. His face was already dark to begin with, but now it darkened to the color of purple-black.

"Don't even mention it. Bad luck—damn bad luck."

"Who the hell knew external assignments would be this godforsaken? It worked me to death."

"What a waste of time. A complete waste of time."

"It's all your fault, you bastard. Come on, you're treating me to a drink today."

Zheng Hai's face was full of indignation, his teeth clenched hard.

Han Yi found it rather baffling. How could this possibly be blamed on him?

But after giving it some thought and connecting it with Zheng Hai secretly applying to leave the mountain on an external assignment, Han Yi understood Zheng Hai's thinking. He could not help but laugh and cry.

Imitating him?

Wasn't that just asking for punishment?

"Come on. Today, I'm treating you to a drink at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion." Han Yi swept out a hand and declared boldly.

"Let's go. Watch me drink you poor this time," Zheng Hai answered heavily.

A short while later.

At the Drunken Immortal Pavilion on Little Golden Crow Peak, the number one Outer Peak.

Han Yi threw down a fortune, spending a full forty-eight spirit stones to order a pile of spirit food and spirit wine. Even for an Inner Peak disciple, it counted as a lavish feast.

Han Yi was now confident he could face any cultivator below Qi Refining Layer 7. Even against someone at Layer 7, he believed he could remain undefeated, so he no longer had as many reservations as before.

More than seven years ago, after returning to the sect from an external assignment, he had only been at Qi Refining Layer 3. He had considered treating Zheng Hai to a great feast at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, but later decided it was inappropriate and kept a low profile.

Back then, his strength had been too weak, and he had feared drawing the attention of other disciples.

But now, on the Outer Peaks, aside from the Peak Masters of each peak and stewards at Qi Refining Layer 8 or above, he feared no one.

If, after cultivating for so many years and reaching Qi Refining Layer 6—with actual combat strength far beyond Layer 6—Han Yi still acted timid and cautious, too afraid even to enter the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, then he would truly have cultivated himself into a dog.

Why had he cultivated so desperately and ground proficiency so frantically? Was it not to become stronger, feel safer, and fear others' prying eyes less?

Zheng Hai's resentful gaze instantly turned wide-eyed at the dazzling array of spirit food and spirit wine.

After all these years, this was the first time Han Yi had displayed his wealth before Zheng Hai.

"Han Yi, you've really made it big."

After his stunned silence, Zheng Hai let out a heavy sigh.

Comparing people really could make one mad.