Time flew, and several leisurely months had already passed.
In the Prince Consort's Residence in Xuansin Royal City, carved balustrades and jade steps remained as splendid as ever. A walkway extending from the long corridor reached out into the lake, whose surface reflected shimmering light.
Beneath the warm winter sun, Li Ling stood beside the path, straight as a pine. Pressing both hands down against empty air, he exhaled a long plume of white vapor.
This white vapor was no ordinary substance. He had condensed it with the Water-Control Method, imbuing it with Mind-Bewildering power and lodging incense essence within it, then shot it forward like a flying sword.
In an instant, the sword light crossed more than a hundred feet, struck a pillar of the lakeside pavilion, and shattered.
The fragrance and incense essence wrapped in the thick mist scattered, spreading like a smoke screen and soon enveloping the entire pavilion.
The sight truly resembled a sword immortal from folk legends.
Before long, the white mist dispersed, and the moisture suffusing it vanished completely.
Li Ling gazed at it for a long while before giving a quiet nod.
"Using Spirit-Bewildering Incense this way is indeed much better than simply letting it spread all around."
This was a new, unnamed minor technique he had developed, combining sword cultivators' sword-control techniques with the manipulation of clouds of vapor. It could also be called the Incense Baleful Force Sword.
"Divine abilities and spells involving smoke, mist, and divine baleful forces have long existed in the cultivation world. Many accomplished seniors have mastered similar methods and possess abundant experience in their use.
"The Incense Path is still in its infancy. I can certainly borrow some of those methods to build its foundations."
But a moment later, Li Ling thought of the various flaws