Sword Art

"Indeed, that would be me."

Ji Yuan smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. He had not expected this old senior to still remember him.

"What? You really mastered the 'Water Drop Finger'?" The white-haired cultivator looked at the handsome youth before him in surprise.

Ji Yuan still wore that beaming expression. "By luck, by luck."

"Come, show me."

The white-haired cultivator became interested as well.

Mastering the "Water Drop Finger" was not difficult, but successfully casting it was another matter entirely.

Ji Yuan looked around. How was he supposed to demonstrate it inside the Hundred Treasures Pavilion?

This old man with gray brows and white hair was even more straightforward. With one hand, he formed a spell seal and summoned two Water Shields, then patted his chest. "Come, hit me."

"This... wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

Ji Yuan did not quite dare, though fortunately, this spell room was separated from the others. Otherwise, such a disturbance would probably have already drawn quite a crowd.

"If I tell you to hit me, then hit me. Why are you talking so much nonsense!"

The old man glared, releasing the aura of Late Qi Refining and placing a measure of pressure on Ji Yuan.

"Then Senior, please be careful."

Since it had come to this, Ji Yuan no longer hesitated. He immediately stretched out his hand and tapped several times in succession. Several streaks of spiritual radiance shot forth, smashing through both Water Shields one after another.

Just as another Water Drop Finger was about to strike the old man in the chest, a red glow flared from his body and dispersed the technique in an instant.

The power of his enchanted robe was formidable indeed.

"Senior, are you all right?"

Ji Yuan had clearly seen a Water Drop Finger strike the man, so he hurriedly asked.

"I'm fine. What could possibly be wrong?"

The old man's hands, clasped behind his back, trembled slightly.

It was not from injury, but fright. He had spent more than a decade idling away his years in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and had long forgotten what life-and-death combat felt like.

So when that spell had come so close just now, it had truly startled him.

He had thought Ji Yuan could cast, at most, one Water Drop Finger. Who would have thought he could unleash so many in a row?

The cultivators on duty outside sensed the fluctuations of spiritual energy in the room and came over to inquire. Several of them were even staring at Ji Yuan with vigilant expressions.

Only after the old man gave them a lengthy explanation did they leave. At last, his gaze returned to Ji Yuan.

"You little brat have been keeping quiet about it. You must have trained your Body Refining to quite a profound level."

"This junior doesn't know either. I've only been practicing blindly." Ji Yuan truly had no idea how the levels of Body Refining were divided.

"Show me some fist and foot techniques," the old man said.

It was rare to encounter a senior willing to offer some guidance, and Ji Yuan naturally would not let the opportunity slip by. He promptly complied and casually performed a set of punches in the room.

The old man stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly after watching.

"Not bad. Your Body Refining has reached minor accomplishment."

"Minor accomplishment?"

"Yes. Body Refining does not have that many subdivisions: entry, minor accomplishment, major accomplishment, and after that comes a Diamond-like Body. Once you reach a Diamond-like Body, even without relying on anything but your flesh, you can withstand the spells of Late Qi Refining. In the mortal world, you could even be considered invincible."

Only after the old man explained did Ji Yuan understand.

"Not bad. You have talent in the path of Body Refining. If you can join the Water Dragon Sect in the future, I will introduce you to a senior... a Foundation Establishment High Person who cultivates both Qi Refining and Body Refining. His path should suit you."

As though recalling something, the old man let out a long sigh. His gaze also became somewhat lonely. "But you must hurry, because I cannot wait much longer."

Without reaching Foundation Establishment, one's lifespan was no more than a little over a hundred years. There was not that much life to spare.

Ji Yuan turned solemn and gave him a deep bow.

"Thank you, Senior."

"These are the second and third layers of the 'Water Drop Finger.' Thirty-five Spirit Stones for both. Take them."

Ji Yuan paid the Spirit Stones first, then placed his hand on the jade slip. As the inheritance surged into him, he came to understand the effects of the second and third layers of the Water Drop Finger.

The second layer was named "Stone-Piercing."

Three strands of azure spiritual radiance, each as thin as a hair, condensed at the fingertips and intertwined in a spiral. After striking the target, the spiritual radiance would repeatedly pierce through the same point with the force of dripping water boring through stone. With the damage stacking up, whether it was the opponent's artifact or protective spell, both could be easily broken through.

The second layer of the Water Drop Finger was truly a sharp weapon for breaking armor.

As for the third layer, it could only be cast after reaching Late Qi Refining.

Its name was "Explosive Charge."

After comprehending it, Ji Yuan felt that it was like a water mine. It drew upon his spiritual energy and compressed it into a single pitch-black droplet of water. Once fired, it exploded, then transformed into a hundred water blades that indiscriminately sliced through everything within a radius of thirty yards.

Its offensive power was extremely strong, and it was also a rare area-of-effect attack.

However, compared to the first two layers, the third layer consumed far more spiritual energy.

No matter. He would return and master the second layer first.

The third layer would probably have to wait until he reached Late Qi Refining.

Just as the white-haired old man was preparing to lie back down and rest, Ji Yuan asked again, "Senior, do you have any spells suitable for use with a flying sword?"

"A flying sword?"

With a raise of his hand, Ji Yuan summoned the Whitewater Flying Sword.

"Water attribute, and its quality is decent." The old man closed his eyes and pondered for a moment before speaking. "You already have the 'Water Drop Finger' for offense. There is little point in pursuing extreme offensive power further. How about this sword art?"

With that, he took out another jade slip.

Ji Yuan reached out and pressed it. This time, it did not contain the full contents, only a simple overview.

Ji Yuan examined it briefly, and his eyes immediately lit up.

The old man smiled. "The first layer of the 'Surging Waves Sword Art,' 'Entangling Waves,' traps enemies and can stack with the effects of the second layer of your 'Water Drop Finger.'"

"The second layer, 'Layered Mirror,' can disrupt enemies. Whether used for evasion or escape, its effects are quite good."

"The third layer, 'Ninefold Waves,' is an attack taken to the extreme. In my experience, this sword art should be the most suitable for you."

Ji Yuan thought the same, so he nodded firmly.

"This one, then. How many Spirit Stones?"

For a spell art like this, and with all three layers purchased together, Ji Yuan had already prepared himself to bleed heavily.

Yet unexpectedly, at the very end, the old man shook his head.

"No Spirit Stones needed."

"Hm?"

Ji Yuan looked up, instinctively feeling that he had misheard.

Unexpectedly, the old man smiled. "I obtained this sword art from a rogue cultivator in my early years, then entered it into the sect's Scripture Repository. Thus, I have the authority to decide whether it is charged for."

"Senior, this..."

Before Ji Yuan could finish, the old man swept his hand over the jade slip. A flash of blue light passed by, and an additional memory immediately appeared in Ji Yuan's mind.

He really... got it for free?!!

Ji Yuan withdrew his hand, then solemnly bowed to the white-haired cultivator. "This junior, Ji Yuan, thanks Senior for this great kindness."

"There is nothing to thank me for. Just return and cultivate diligently. If there is anything you do not understand, you may come here and ask me."

Ji Yuan rose to his feet. Looking at the senior who had shown him such care, he softly asked, "May I ask Senior's honored name?"

"It is not some grand name. Xu Fugui. Just call me Old Master Xu," the old man said amiably.

"Thank you, Grandpa Xu."

Ji Yuan changed to a somewhat more proper form of address.

Xu Fugui waved his hand and sent him away.

Only after watching him leave did Xu Fugui's gaze become somewhat dazed. He then turned toward the north, speaking silently in his heart:

"Master, this disciple is dull-witted. I can only do my best to find you a junior brother."

The senior Xu Fugui had mentioned earlier, the one who cultivated both Qi Refining and Body Refining, was none other than his master.

Unfortunately, Xu Fugui possessed no particular talent in Body Refining and found it difficult to even enter its halls.

Much less inherit the mantle.

Now that he had finally encountered a junior like Ji Yuan with such talent in the path of Body Refining, he was naturally willing to extend some care and support.

It would be best if Ji Yuan succeeded. If not... Xu Fugui would lose nothing.

After leaving, Ji Yuan pondered bitterly for quite some time, wondering why Old Master Xu had treated him so well.

He thought and thought but could not make sense of it, so he could only assume the man was simply kind-hearted.

On the path of cultivation, wealth, methods, companions, and land were all indispensable. Perhaps Old Master Xu was the benefactor he had encountered upon the great path to immortality.

Before leaving, Ji Yuan bought several high-grade Talismans for preserving his life. Only as he walked home did he begin to ponder silently.

"I need to learn the 'Water Drop Finger.'"

"I need to learn the 'Surging Waves Sword Art.'"

"And I need to try modifying the Yin Ghost Formation."

"All of these depend on my own... comprehension. Then can I use the method of creating a [Talisman Room] to create a [Dao Comprehension Chamber] for myself?"