Chapter 506 - 292: Cultivation Breakthrough, Comprehensive Enhancement
Chapter 506: Chapter 292: Cultivation Breakthrough, Comprehensive Enhancement
’Even if I had enough Magical Power to activate a True Core Talisman Treasure, I’m afraid I would’ve been instantly slain by this Cultivator Li’s eerie technique.’
’After all, a Talisman Treasure isn’t cast instantly; it requires a certain activation time. While this time shortens with the Cultivator’s Cultivation level—or rather, the strength of their Magical Power—it never completely vanishes.’
’And a mere moment would have been enough for him to kill us several times over.’
Yun Zhi understood this perfectly, and her attitude was one of utmost respect.
Lin Changheng’s calm gaze swept over the two women bowing before him.
Although Yun Zhi was pale and her aura was faint, her clothes torn and stained with blood, leaving her in a sorry state, her eyes were a different story. After experiencing despair and shock, they had become clearer and more resolute. A faint, unyielding Sword Intent was brewing and condensing within them. Clearly, this life-and-death ordeal had tempered her Sword Heart, brushing away the dust.
She carried herself with an upright posture, and even as she bowed, there was no trace of fragility, only a deep-seated resilience.
Lin Changheng’s gaze shifted slightly, and for the first time, he carefully sized up the silent Female Cultivator in the green Daoist Robe beside Yun Zhi.
This woman was slightly shorter than Yun Zhi, with a slender, graceful figure. The slightly oversized green Daoist Robe she wore only accentuated her delicate and fragile appearance.
She kept her head slightly lowered, her jet-black hair simply tied at the nape of her neck. A few strands, loosened by the fierce battle, clung to her sweaty temples and cheeks. However, her slightly trembling shoulders showed that she had yet to fully recover from the fear and shock.
Her Heart Nature was inferior to Yun Zhi’s.
"There’s no need for such formalities."
After glancing over the two of them, Lin Changheng spoke, his voice as flat and emotionless as ever.
"I acted for two reasons. First, I happened to be passing by. Second, I had an agreement with Miss Yun. There’s no need for any special thanks."
His tone was flat as he held up the Little Sumeru Sword Seal, making it clear this was not an act of chivalry but a transaction, devoid of personal sentiment.
It was a matter of fact, strictly business.
"You may see it that way, Brother Li, but I cannot. How can I simply forget the debt of having my life saved?"
Yun Zhi shook her head with a smile, disagreeing with Lin Changheng’s words.
’But her thoughts were irrelevant to him. As long as the reward was satisfactory, she could say whatever she pleased.’
’The Cultivation Realm was rife with deceit and betrayal. Interests were more direct, more real.’
"A personality like yours, Miss Yun... is quite rare in the Cultivation Realm."
Lin Changheng smiled, his tone carrying an unreadable hint of what might have been approval, or something else entirely. He didn’t dwell on the topic of gratitude. Instead, he smoothly changed the subject, his calm gaze landing on Yun Zhi as he cut straight to the chase.
"Since you insist, Miss Yun, it would be inappropriate for me to keep refusing, lest I appear disingenuous. What, then, have you prepared as a token of your thanks?"
He was direct, not beating around the bush in the slightest.
The blunt question startled Yun Zhi, whose Heart and Spirit had not yet settled after her brush with death. She hadn’t expected him to be so direct, forgoing even basic pleasantries. But she was, after all, the direct heir of a Noble Family. She quickly composed herself and began to calculate.
’His strength is unfathomable,’ she thought. ’Ordinary Spirit Stones and Elixirs won’t impress him. Besides, he identified the Little Sumeru Sword Seal with such precision. His eye is incredibly discerning; he’s clearly well-versed in High Tier Treasures.’
After a moment’s thought, she said solemnly, "You are a straightforward man, Brother Li, and I admire that. Ordinary items would surely be beneath your notice. My Yun Family was founded upon the sword. While I can’t make grand claims about other things, we have amassed a respectable collection of items related to the Sword Dao."
Yun Zhi paused, observing Lin Changheng’s expression before continuing, "If you are interested in the Sword Dao, Brother Li, our Yun Family’s Sword Storage Pavilion holds several transcribed copies of Tier Two Inheritances. We could gift one to you as our thanks."
Lin Changheng did not respond immediately, lost in thought.
’A Sword Dao Inheritance?’
’Now, if it were a Tier Three Sword Dao Inheritance, that would be incredibly valuable. I could practice it, perhaps even adopt it as my Primary Cultivation Technique and replace the Jade Void Brilliance Scripture.’
’Although I’ve cultivated this technique to the Realm of Perfection, it’s far too dangerous. It’s a Cultivation Technique that causes its practitioners to be drawn to devour one another.’
’The Huang Family Grand Elder, Huang Jiuyuan, found this technique on a corpse while traveling in the Jin Country. Things were fine back then. The situation was stable, the border between the two nations was clearly defined, and High Tier Cultivators from Jin Country wouldn’t dare cross it openly. I was safe.’
’But now a war between Cultivators has begun. With the Song Country attacking the Jin homeland, its own territory has been left vulnerable. It’s entirely possible that Cultivators from Jin will do the unexpected and infiltrate the Song Territory.’
’The situation would descend into total chaos. And when it does, what if a High Tier Cultivator from Jin who also practices the Jade Void Brilliance Scripture infiltrates our lands?’
’Would they see me as food? As nourishment to advance their own technique?’
This was a major point of concern for him. After all, his Concealing Breath Demon Technique was effective against Fake Core Cultivators, but what if he encountered a True Core Cultivator with a much higher Cultivation level?
Therefore, the matter of changing his Cultivation Technique had become a top priority, a problem that needed to be solved sooner rather than later.
"Do you have a Tier Three technique?"
Lin Changheng asked suddenly.
A troubled expression was plain to see on Yun Zhi’s face. Lin Changheng already had a good idea of the answer. No matter how high Yun Zhi’s status in the Yun Family was, a Tier Three Sword Dao Inheritance was not something she could decide on a whim.
But Lin Changheng didn’t press the issue, nor did he withdraw the question. He simply waited as Yun Zhi wrestled with her thoughts, her expression one of clear anguish. Finally, she spoke. "Brother Li, I’m afraid that’s... not possible."