(After a whole afternoon of typing, I finally finished this chapter! I'll try again tonight to see if I can squeeze out another chapter. If you have any tickets to spare, please throw a few my way—waaah, the new book monthly ticket ranking has already dropped to eighth place!)
The supernatural power achieved upon mastering the final three layers of the sword technique was called the "Sword Shadow Light Splitting Art." The prerequisite for cultivating it was that one had to possess a flying sword-type magic treasure, though flying knives would also do.
Once mastered, this supernatural power allowed the user to harness the sword light of the flying sword and conjure a sword shadow identical to the original, which could confuse the enemy's vision and attack alongside the true sword. Although the sword shadow initially possessed only one-tenth the power of the original, its strength would grow as the sword technique advanced. By the ninth layer, it could reach one-third of the original's might.
Moreover, when cultivating the sword shadow, one wasn't limited to producing just a single copy. Starting from the seventh layer, each additional layer unlocked the ability to conjure one more sword shadow. In this way, when the Green Profound Sword Technique was cultivated to its absolute limit, one could simultaneously manifest three sword shadows identical in appearance to the flying sword, each possessing one-third of its power.
Judging by this, the "Sword Light Shadow Splitting Art" didn't seem half bad—it looked worth cultivating.
But Han Li already knew that among the many Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Yellow Maple Valley, not a single one had truly delved deep into practicing it. There had to be something seriously wrong with it! This realization filled him with deep regret. Why hadn't he bothered to find out the real reasons back then? He'd simply assumed he would never cultivate the Green Profound Sword Technique, so he'd carelessly let it slip by.
Now, even though Han Li knew full well that this technique had major problems, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and give it a try. All he could hope was that it wouldn't lead to any backlash similar to qi deviation.
Still, he consoled himself with the thought that others hadn't practiced it deeply either, yet they had managed two or three layers without incident. By that logic, a little bit of cultivation shouldn't cause any major issues.
Holding on to this self-reassuring thought, Han Li reluctantly followed the method described in the Green Profound Sword Technique and began drawing the medicinal power circulating within his body before it went out of control.
The technique ran through just a single cycle when Han Li felt a rush—this sensation of absorbing the medicinal power and watching his magical power surge was so exhilarating he nearly cried out in pleasure.
Lost in this wonderful sensation, Han Li allowed the technique to cycle over and over while his consciousness gradually drifted far away.
He didn't know how long he had been meditating. When he finally absorbed the last trace of medicinal power in his body, he finally snapped out of the blissful experience.
Coming back to his senses, Han Li stared blankly for a moment, then stood up without a word. He narrowed his eyes, tilted his head in thought, and suddenly raised his arm, making a gesture in front of him. Instantly, a foot-long streak of azure sword light shot from his fingertips—cold, sharp, and utterly piercing.
Upon seeing this cold light, Han Li didn't feel joy at all. Instead, he forced a bitter smile. Then he suddenly flicked his arm, and the azure light surged violently, stretching over ten feet long, nearly piercing into the stone wall opposite him.
"This is bad—I didn't expect the residual medicinal power to be this strong. It actually pushed the sword technique straight to the fourth layer. I hope this won't cause any serious problems!" Han Li muttered, his expression flickering between light and dark.
"Forget it. At worst, I just won't cultivate this sword technique anymore!" Han Li murmured to himself, then lowered his arm, and the azure sword light vanished.
Still, driven by curiosity, Han Li picked up the Green Profound Sword Technique manual once more and read through the passage about the Body-Guarding Sword Shield, committing it to memory several times.
After pondering briefly with his head lowered, Han Li closed his eyes. Then, with a sudden snap, he opened them again—and a peculiar shield had already formed around his body.
The shield was entirely azure, roughly the same size as an ordinary defensive barrier, but its surface was no longer the smooth shape one would expect. Instead, it bristled with spike-like protrusions like a hedgehog, radiating an aura of fierce killing intent.
"This is the Body-Guarding Sword Shield?" Han Li examined the spiked shield covering his body closely, somewhat surprised.
"The sword technique says this shield can release sword light on its own to counterattack enemies. It's a pity I can't test it right now," Han Li thought with considerable regret.
He then stretched his limbs and conducted a thorough examination of the true essence within his body. Finding nothing wrong at all, he finally packed up his belongings and left the earth-fire chamber with peace of mind. And as luck would have it, he ran straight into the ugly man!
Recalling the ugly man's stunned expression upon seeing him, Han Li couldn't help but smile to himself as he flew through the air.
At this hour, dawn was just breaking. Han Li returned to the Hundred Medicine Garden without encountering a single soul.
He had previously used the excuse of finding a secluded place for Foundation Establishment secluded cultivation, so the medicine garden had naturally been handed back to the little old man. This had left the old man thoroughly displeased, and he'd huffed and glowered at Han Li for quite a while.
When Han Li entered the garden, the little old man was sitting cross-legged in front of his thatched hut, eyes closed, drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Although he didn't open his eyes, he still called out Han Li's name the instant he sensed him. This was hardly surprising—apart from the little old man himself, Han Li was the only person who could freely enter and leave the Hundred Medicine Garden's restrictions.
However, the very moment this Martial Uncle Ma spoke Han Li's name, he suddenly sensed something and snapped his eyes open, staring at Han Li in utter disbelief.