Secret Technique

Linjian City.

This city sits at the foot of the Divine Sword Sect, and the families of many Divine Sword Sect disciples and staff reside here.

In a sense, Linjian City belongs to the Divine Sword Sect. Although there are government offices, in reality, most of the people within them have intricate ties to the Divine Sword Sect.

Inside a restaurant.

"Senior Brother Yan."

Yi Zhong stood there with a fawning and humble expression.

Sitting across from him was a youth in brocade robes with an extraordinary temperament. He took a light sip of wine and said indifferently, "Li Gan has already become an Official Disciple, so this task ends here."

"Uh? Senior Brother Yan, isn't Li Gan a Menial Disciple? How could he become an Official Disciple?"

Yi Zhong's face was filled with disbelief.

"Do you think my words could be false? Alright, you may withdraw."

The youth in brocade robes waved his hand.

Yi Zhong felt stifled inside. How many years had he worked hard to become an Official Disciple?

That Li Gan had clearly only been a Menial Disciple for a little over two years, so how did he suddenly become an Official Disciple?

"Senior Brother Yan, but you previously said you would support me..."

He took a deep breath and hurriedly asked.

"I'm not going to repeat myself. This task is cancelled; get out. Also, the matter I had you handle must never be spoken of, or you know the consequences."

The youth in brocade robes frowned slightly, his tone showing clear dissatisfaction.

A mere Menial Disciple dared to make demands of him? Before, he had simply needed to use this person, but now that he had no value, he couldn't be bothered to pay him any mind.

Did it not take resources to cultivate a Menial Disciple?

Although he was an Official Disciple and had even been taken as a student by an Ordinary Elder, making him a Personal Disciple with status and treatment far superior to ordinary Official Disciples, he still wouldn't hand out cultivation resources for no reason.

While this Yi Zhong could be considered top-tier among the Menial Disciples, he was not worth mentioning compared to an Official Disciple.

Yi Zhong was startled, realizing he had angered this Official Disciple.

He dared not say another word and could only retreat.

However, he was filled with grief and indignation. He had originally thought he had latched onto a powerful backer and that there was hope for him to become an Official Disciple in the future.

Who could have foreseen that hope would be severed just like that?

The main reason he had previously defeated Zhang Mingcan on the Menial Disciple Combat Ranking List was the support of Senior Brother Yan, who had provided him with certain cultivation resources.

With his current strength, the difficulty of maintaining the number one spot on the Combat Ranking List for the next two years was far too great.

The gap in strength between those at the top of the Menial Disciple Combat Ranking List was actually not particularly large; anyone could be surpassed.

Moreover, he had offended an Official Disciple.

After all, back at the Bell Tower, he had threatened Li Gan.

If the other party held a grudge—no, they would definitely hold a grudge.

He knew that if he continued to stay in the Divine Sword Sect, his future would be unpredictable. It would be better to return to his hometown and inherit the family business.

As a Ranked Martial Artist at the Postnatal Realm First Layer, he was more than capable of supporting the family business.

At dusk.

Li Gan arrived in front of the wooden cabin in the valley.

"Master, I have already mastered the basics of the Heartless Sword Art."

Li Gan said.

"Mm. From now on, you cannot simply practice internal cultivation techniques alone. You must coordinate your practice with the Heartless Sword Technique, eventually reaching a point where the sword technique drives the internal cultivation technique. This is the unique aspect of the Heartless Sword Art. Once you can achieve this, you will be able to comprehend a powerful Secret Technique."

Zhou Buping was not surprised that Li Gan had mastered the basics so quickly.

Li Gan was already a Ranked Martial Artist with high comprehension. As long as his innate talent and aptitude met the requirements, mastering the basics was essentially effortless.

"Master, what is a Secret Technique? How is it different from a Martial Technique?"

Li Gan asked curiously.

"Internal cultivation is the method of practice, Martial Techniques are the means of attack, and Secret Techniques are your trump cards."

Zhou Buping said indifferently, "If you want to become a True Disciple, you must comprehend a Secret Technique. The Heartless Sword Art is a cultivation method that allows one to comprehend such a technique. In our Divine Sword Sect, only the main cultivation methods of the Seven Great Peaks can achieve this. The difference is that the methods of the Seven Great Peaks focus more on innate talent and aptitude; only when one's cultivation base reaches a certain level is it possible to comprehend a Secret Technique. However, with the Heartless Sword Art, even if your cultivation base is insufficient, as long as your comprehension is high enough, you have a chance to comprehend a Secret Technique. Do you know what this means?"

"It allows for fighting across cultivation levels?"

Li Gan said.

"Exactly."

Zhou Buping's face revealed a look of pride. "The world believes that innate talent and aptitude are the most important things, but I do not think so. As long as one's comprehension is high enough, even if one's aptitude is mediocre, they can defy the heavens, change their fate, and reach the pinnacle of the martial path."

Why was he here, acting as a gatekeeper?

Isn't that exactly why he was looking for someone like this?

He wanted to use facts to tell those people within the sect that he was right.

"Of course, comprehending a Secret Technique is only the beginning. Your true goal is to practice the Heartless Sword Art to perfection and comprehend the Heartless Sword Intent."

Zhou Buping added.

"Master, this disciple will remember."

Li Gan said quickly.

He always felt that his master's emotions seemed to have become a bit unstable.

After returning to the Bell Tower, Li Gan attempted to practice the Heartless Sword Technique to coordinate with the internal cultivation technique of the Heartless Sword Art.

However, after practicing for a while, he found it extremely difficult.

Because the internal cultivation technique belonged to the category of static meditation, it was almost impossible to practice internal energy while performing sword techniques.

The next morning.

After the bell was struck during the Mao Hour, Li Gan utilized the first chime of the day to once again circulate the internal cultivation technique of the Heartless Sword Art while practicing the Heartless Sword Technique.

This time, it was unexpectedly smooth.

As he swung the treasure sword in his hand, the internal energy within his body flowed and circulated rapidly, as if it were an extension of his own arm. Meanwhile, the sword bloomed with light, its sharpness fully revealed.

When he finished the set, Li Gan felt completely refreshed.

He hurriedly checked the latest information on the system interface.

Host: Li Gan.

Cultivation Base: Postnatal Realm (1st Layer 64/100).

Sacrificial Vessel: Chen Bell (Treasure 803/1000).

Martial Arts: Sword Piercing Fist (Perfected), Heartless Sword Art (Entry 1/100).

"It actually increased by two points of progress?"

Li Gan was very surprised.

Yesterday, he had practiced for an entire day and only gained five points of progress, with one point per Grand Heavenly Cycle.

Yet this time, by using the internal cultivation technique of the Heartless Sword Art to assist in practicing the Heartless Sword Technique, he had actually gained two points of progress.

He had no doubt that this was the result of the synergy between the mental cultivation technique and the sword technique.

Furthermore, progress data had also appeared for the Heartless Sword Art.

Clearly, he had only been practicing the Internal Cultivation Technique of the Heartless Sword Art yesterday and had not trained in the Heartless Sword Technique; in a sense, his practice had been incomplete.

It was only today that he could be considered to have truly mastered the fundamentals of the Heartless Sword Art.

"Next, it's time to grind."

Li Gan wore a smile.

As long as there was progress, cultivation became simple.

Thus, his life in the Bell Tower became routine once again.

With the aid of cultivation resources, his Cultivation Base could increase by about ten points of progress every day.

Meanwhile, the progress of the Heartless Sword Art could increase by about six points.

In just a few days, Li Gan's Cultivation Base successfully broke through to the Second Layer of the Postnatal Realm.

During this period, that Menial Disciple Yi Zhong never appeared again.

There was also no movement from the Chore Hall.

On this day, Li Gan was busy weeding in the soil.

Because he had been busy with cultivation for the past few days, he had neglected the land.

"Brother Gan, I have some good news for you."

Chen Yong, who was carrying a crossbeam up the mountain for exercise, said.

"Oh, what good news?"

Li Gan asked.

"Isn't the person ranked first on the Combat Ranking List that Yi Zhong? I heard he applied to the Chore Hall to leave the mountain and return home."

Chen Yong said.

"Leave the mountain and return home?"

Li Gan was stunned.

Doesn't that mean giving up his status as a Menial Disciple?

What was going on?

Wasn't he serving some big shot in the Inner Sect before? Why would he suddenly give up his status as a Menial Disciple?

There must be a reason for this.

Perhaps this person knew he had the status of an Official Disciple and was afraid of retaliation, so he chose to leave the mountain and return home?

No wonder there had been no movement from the Chore Hall during this time.

It seemed that the status of an Official Disciple had added a layer of protection to him.