Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 106

Following this, the old man, now Han Li’s Senior Brother Ma, led Han Li to a room where they sat facing each other with warm tea between them. As if unable to contain himself, he began to inquire about Han Li’s success in Foundation Establishment.

While Han Li couldn’t reveal all his secrets, he didn’t hide the fact that he had succeeded in Foundation Establishment within the cave of the Earthly Flames. It was a fact that would eventually come to light with a little investigation anyway.

He explained that he had rented a room in the Evil Omen Hall, taken the Foundation Establishment Pill given by the sect, and spent nearly a year in secluded cultivation. He added that luck had been on his side, allowing him to succeed in Foundation Establishment.

“Junior Brother Han! From what I hear, your experience was no different from others. To overcome the one in a hundred chance with such aptitude, you can truly say you’ve had a stroke of great luck.”

The old man, who had been nodding as he listened, expressed his envy directly, perhaps because he had grown comfortable with Han Li after knowing him for several years.

“Haha! That’s right. This junior brother has indeed been very lucky. I didn’t expect to reach the Foundation Establishment stage so quickly either.”

“Now that you’ve entered the Foundation Establishment stage, you should quickly go see the Sect Leader and register your name! Only then will your treatment as a disciple change to match that of a high-ranking disciple. You’ll also receive more spirit stones each year.”

Han Li and Senior Brother Ma couldn’t help but laugh.

“I am grateful for your teachings, Senior Brother!”

He was truly sincere. He was thankful for Senior Brother Ma’s caring advice.

“It’s nothing much! We’ve known each other for a long time, so I should share what I can.”

The old man waved his hand, as if it were nothing important, and continued,

“Actually, the greatest benefit you can enjoy from the sect after succeeding in Foundation Establishment is that you can choose any place in the Taiyue Mountain Range to live and cultivate alone! Moreover…”

Senior Brother Ma explained in detail the things Han Li needed to know after entering the Foundation Establishment stage, helping him avoid potential difficulties.

After he finished his explanation and they were chatting, Han Li, unable to hold back any longer, asked about the Azure Essence Sword Art. However, upon hearing the name Azure Essence Sword Art, the old man looked surprised and stared at him with a meaningful gaze.

“Regarding that, I have indeed heard something. I’ve also mastered up to the third level, but in truth, it’s not a unique sword art of our Yellow Maple Valley. It was originally the unique technique of a place called the Profound Sword Sect, which was destroyed by Yellow Maple Valley long ago. Furthermore, it was originally a sword art with ten levels, not just nine, and it’s said that several ancestors took it from a Profound Sword Sect elder who was trying to destroy it just before their sect was annihilated. The rest was damaged and lost. What is passed down now is only a part of it, at most up to the level that a Core Formation cultivator can master. But if one were to obtain the complete sword art, it’s said that even a Spirit Severing cultivator could master it, but there’s no way to confirm if that rumor is true or not.”

The old man shook his head and brought the teacup to his lips.

“Even without the latter part, the Azure Essence Sword Art is not bad in terms of power, even if it doesn’t match up to first-rate techniques. Especially since it can instantly create light swords and protective swords, many Foundation Establishment cultivators have mastered it. If only the method of cultivation were easier, they would have continued to master this sword art. Anyway, even the Nascent Soul techniques were too far for Foundation Establishment cultivators.”

Senior Brother Ma paused again, looking regretful.

“Unfortunately, as the mastery of the sword art deepens, there is a fatal flaw. From the fourth level onwards, if you absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth using the Azure Essence Sword Art, a strange phenomenon occurs where your magic power dissipates every few days.

It’s maddening because some of the magic power you’ve accumulated with the sword art over several days disappears for an unknown reason. Fortunately, at the fourth level, only one-tenth of the newly accumulated magic power is lost, so it’s bearable if you work hard.

However, at the fifth and sixth levels, that ratio increases by one-tenth each time, causing you to lose a large amount of the magic power you worked so hard to increase. At the fifth level, two-tenths are lost, and at the sixth level, three-tenths are lost, so who would try to master the Azure Essence Sword Art?

Moreover, the person who has mastered the Azure Essence Sword Art the deepest in our sect has only reached the sixth level, so only Core Formation cultivators can attempt to go beyond that. But since so much magic power is lost at the sixth level, who would dare to risk their magic power and take such a gamble? If that ratio increases even more after the seventh level, it would be too terrifying.

Once you reach the Core Formation stage, it becomes even more difficult to achieve progress in techniques. Moreover, the difficulty of the Azure Essence Sword Art also increases, requiring decades of wasted time. Besides, the Azure Essence Sword Art is not a complete sword art, nor is it a technique original to Yellow Maple Valley.

However, the light sword and protective sword of the sword art are certainly practical, so many Foundation Establishment cultivators, including myself, have mastered up to the third level and use it as a supplementary technique. We use only the beneficial aspects without risking the loss of newly acquired magic power. Of course, to create a light sword, you need to steadily cultivate this sword art for about four to five years.”

After the long explanation, Han Li was just blankly staring. That couldn’t be! He had already reached the fourth level, and according to the old man, he would inevitably lose some of the magic power he gained with the Azure Essence Sword Art from now on!

Then how could he continue to cultivate? However, now that he clearly knew the flaw, he just needed to stop mastering it. Not long after making this decision, the old man spoke again.

“The Azure Essence Sword Art still has some outstanding points. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been mastered as a unique technique of a sect for so long.

Although the cultivation speed of the sword art is very slow, once progress is made, it is said to exhibit a strange effect of widening the meridians and deepening the dantian [energy center]. A cultivator who has mastered this sword art can possess more profound magic power than a cultivator of the same realm.

According to the cultivator who mastered the Azure Essence Sword Art up to the sixth level, who I mentioned earlier, he had about one-third more magic power than others when he reached the late Foundation Establishment stage. It’s quite mysterious that he could accumulate as much magic power as the amount he had lost!”

The old man, who seemed to have been very interested in this sword art, became more and more engrossed as he spoke, raising his voice. Seeing this, Han Li quickly changed the subject, and only then did he return to his usual demeanor.

To Han Li, who had already made up his mind, it didn’t matter whether the Azure Essence Sword Art was mysterious or miraculous. He, who already had poor aptitude, would be a fool to master an incomplete technique that was known for its slow progress.

He had been hoping that if he made and consumed appropriate spirit pills while steadily cultivating a normal technique, he might have a chance to reach the Core Formation stage before he died.

After talking a little more with the old man, Han Li got up from his seat. Now that he had succeeded in Foundation Establishment, he naturally couldn’t continue his duty of tending to the spirit herbs in the Hundred Herb Garden. He packed his belongings in his room and left the place with a light heart.

The sun was high in the sky, so it was the perfect time to go to the Hall of Affairs to take care of his business. He was still excited from his recent success in Foundation Establishment. He wanted to quickly finish his business and find a suitable place to settle down. He had high expectations for his independent residence.

In any case, he would have a space where he could do whatever he wanted without having to hide or sneak around.

Feeling his heart pounding with anticipation, he quickly rode his magic tool and arrived at the Hall of Affairs.

The two young disciples guarding the gate didn’t recognize Han Li, but they realized he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator and didn’t treat him carelessly. The two of them stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

“Esteemed Uncle-Master, how may we assist you?”

‘Uncle-Master?’

He almost chuckled at their words. If he had seen them a year ago, he would have had to call them Senior Brothers instead.

But now, they had suddenly become uncle-master and nephew-disciple, so it felt unfamiliar. Still, it didn’t feel bad to have people of similar age bowing to him.

“Is Sect Leader Zhong here? I have some business to see him about.”

At his straightforward words, the two Qi Refining disciples glanced up at Han Li.

“The Sect Leader has gone to the Baiqi Hall for a while. He will be back soon, so how about you go to the reception room and wait?”

Han Li’s brow furrowed at the news that the Sect Leader was not there, but he soon returned to his original expression.

“Alright. Then I’ll go in and wait.”

“Yes. This way, Esteemed Uncle-Master!”

One of the disciples nimbly stepped back and led him inside. Following him through the main hall, they soon arrived at a rather large reception room. The room was not only neatly organized, but it also had ink and brushes, and calligraphy and paintings were hung all around, giving it an elegant literary atmosphere.

“Please wait here, and I will inform the Sect Leader as soon as he returns.”

The young man poured tea with practiced ease and then withdrew. Han Li nodded as he watched the young man leave, then shook his head again.

He had nodded first because he was very satisfied with the young man’s attitude, as there was nothing displeasing about it, and he had shaken his head because he was reminded of the sorrows of low-ranking disciples.

It was a pity that cultivators, who should be focusing solely on cultivation, had to spend their time like secular servants, guarding the gate all day long!

Now that he thought about it, if he hadn’t given a Foundation Establishment Pill to Old Man Ye in the first place, he would have been bowing down somewhere like that. He wouldn’t have been in a better position than that young man, if not worse.

While enjoying the fragrant tea in the reception room and having all sorts of random thoughts, Sect Leader Zhong returned.

He had been a little puzzled when the disciples guarding the gate told him that a young man who was a Foundation Establishment cultivator was requesting an audience.

From their description, he was so unfamiliar that none of the hundreds of Foundation Establishment cultivators in the sect matched.

‘Who could be a twenty-five-year-old with dark skin and an ordinary appearance?’

With a mix of curiosity and a strange feeling, he quickened his pace. As he entered the reception room, he saw a young man standing with his back to him, looking at the ‘Ten Thousand Flowers Painting’ on the wall with great interest. Sensing Sect Leader Zhong’s presence, the young man immediately turned around and bowed.

“Sect Leader Senior Brother, this disciple Han Li pays his respects to the Sect Leader.”

“Han Li?”

Sect Leader Zhong had clearly heard the name somewhere before, so he looked at him closely, but he couldn’t recognize who he was.

“Han… Junior Brother Han. Please, have a seat. I was delayed because I was busy with my duties as Sect Leader, so please don’t mind it.”

Having dealt with so many old foxes as Sect Leader, he naturally hid his awkwardness at not recognizing the other party and led him to a seat. Han Li noticed his actions but wasn’t particularly surprised.

It had been five years since they had met as a Qi Refining disciple with poor aptitude, so he couldn’t have left a big impression. He would have been more surprised if he had recognized him at first glance.

“Sect Leader Senior Brother! This disciple succeeded in Foundation Establishment a few days ago and has come to inform the sect and obtain the authority to set up a residence.”

Without any unnecessary words, he directly stated his identity.

“You just succeeded in Foundation Establishment?”

Zhong Lingdao was a little surprised, but he immediately understood the other party’s intentions. There were many cases where people didn’t take the Foundation Establishment Pill right away but tried it when they were ready and succeeded in Foundation Establishment. Zhong Lingdao thought that Han Li was one of those cases.

“Haha. Congratulations on Junior Brother Han’s success in Foundation Establishment. It’s truly a joyous occasion that another high-ranking disciple has joined our sect.”

The Sect Leader stroked his three-pronged beard and smiled.

“It was just luck. It’s all thanks to the Foundation Establishment Pill given by the sect!”

At his humble words, Zhong Lingdao also gave a faint smile. However, the more he looked at him, the more certain he was that he had seen that face somewhere, but he couldn’t remember where.

With this frustrating feeling, his head gradually lowered as he fell into deep thought. Han Li simply didn’t disturb him and picked up his teacup again, slowly enjoying the aroma of the tea.

# 108