Senior Brother Ma paused here, a look of regret crossing his face. Then he continued:
"But unfortunately, this sword technique has an unbearable flaw once you cultivate it to deeper levels. Starting from the fourth layer, when using the Green Essence Sword Technique as your cultivation method to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, every few days you'll experience the strange phenomenon of power dissipation. The magical power refined using this technique over the previous few days will inexplicably dissipate on its own. It's truly baffling!"
"The power dissipation at the fourth layer isn't too severe—only one-tenth of the newly refined magical power is lost. With a bit more effort, most cultivators can make up for it. But if you advance to the fifth or sixth layer, the spiritual power loss becomes terrifying, increasing by one-tenth for each layer. In other words, the fifth layer loses two-tenths of newly refined magical power, and the sixth layer loses three-tenths. At that point, who would dare continue cultivating the Green Essence Sword Technique?"
"Moreover, the Green Essence Sword Technique that our sect's disciples cultivate has historically only gone up to the sixth layer. Anything beyond the sixth layer requires a cultivator at the Core Formation stage. But look—even at the sixth layer, nearly one-third of the spiritual power is lost. Would these high-ranking cultivators dare take such a risk? If the Green Essence Sword Technique at the seventh layer and beyond continues to increase power dissipation, wouldn't they be suffering for nothing?"
"Remember, after reaching the Core Formation stage, advancing even one level is extraordinarily difficult. And the Green Essence Sword Technique is extremely hard to cultivate. Asking them to spend over ten or even dozens of years taking such a risk for this foolish endeavor? No one would do that! Besides, the Green Essence Sword Technique is both incomplete and not a celestial art—there's no compelling reason to take such a risk."
"But the sword glow ability of this technique is quite practical, and it would be a pity to abandon it completely. So some cultivators only cultivate the first three layers of the Green Essence Sword Technique, treating it purely as an auxiliary method. This way, they don't have to worry about power dissipation while still being able to use the sword glow ability. Of course, even just cultivating the sword glow ability requires these disciples to spend four or five years training exclusively in this sword technique."
After listening to the old man's lengthy explanation, Han Li was stunned. When he came back to his senses, he felt a knot in his stomach!
No way—he had already cultivated the fourth layer of the sword technique! If what the old man said was true, then going forward, any magical power he cultivated using the Green Essence Sword Technique would inexplicably lose one-tenths. And as he progressed to higher layers, the power dissipation would only increase!
How could he possibly continue cultivating?
However, since the matter had been made so clear, he certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to continue practicing the Green Essence Sword Technique. His cultivation of the Green Essence Sword Technique would end here.
No sooner had Han Li made this resolution than the old man's next words caught him off guard, making him feel a spark of interest!
"The Green Essence Sword Technique has such significant defects, but it still has its unique merits. Otherwise, it wouldn't have become the sect's treasured technique back in the day." The old man licked his lips, speaking with sudden emotion.
"I've heard that although this sword technique is incredibly slow to cultivate, each completed layer has the miraculous effect of expanding one's meridians and deepening the dantian. This makes cultivators who have practiced this technique possess magical power that is somewhat deeper than other cultivators of the same level."
"How much deeper, exactly? That depends on which layer of the sword technique has been completed."
"But according to that senior disciple who was the only one to cultivate the Green Essence Sword Technique to the sixth layer, when he reached the late Foundation Establishment stage with the sixth layer completed, his magical power was nearly one-third greater than other cultivators. Interestingly, this surplus exactly matches the proportion of power dissipation from cultivating the Green Essence Sword Technique at that level. What a coincidence! This really shows that this sword technique has some profound mysteries."
The old man seemed to have studied the Green Essence Sword Technique quite thoroughly, growing more animated as he spoke. By the end, he was practically spitting with excitement, waving his hands wildly! Han Li quickly changed the subject, steering the conversation away from the Green Essence Sword Technique to restore the old man to some semblance of normalcy.
For Han Li, no matter how miraculous this sword technique might be, he wouldn't cultivate it.
After all, his aptitude was already poor. Deliberately cultivating this incredibly slow and incomplete technique would be foolish unless he had no intention of ever reaching Core Formation!
With normal cultivation techniques, Han Li estimated that if he could find a few more spirit pill formulas, achieving Core Formation in his lifetime might not be completely impossible!
After chatting with the old man for a while longer, Han Li took his leave.
Now that his Foundation Establishment was complete, he naturally could no longer tend the medicine garden for the old man. So he returned to his original thatched hut, tidied up a few things, and then departed.
The sky was just brightening—it was the perfect time to visit the Assembly Hall.
Having just achieved Foundation Establishment, Han Li's excitement hadn't entirely faded. He only wanted to get his business done and immediately establish his own cave dwelling!
He had been looking forward to this for a long time! After all, once he had his own territory, he wouldn't have to do everything in secret anymore. He could openly do whatever he pleased in his own space.
Han Li grew more excited the more he thought about it, and before he knew it, he had flown to the Assembly Hall on his magic tool.
The two young disciples guarding the main entrance clearly didn't recognize Han Li, but his Foundation Establishment cultivation was immediately obvious to them. Naturally, they wouldn't dare slight him just because he was young!
So they both stepped forward and bowed respectfully:
"Senior, is there anything this junior can help you with?"
"Senior?"
Hearing this form of address, Han Li found it somewhat amusing. If he had met these two a year ago, he would probably have had to call them Senior Brother! Now, after achieving Foundation Establishment, his status had risen dramatically, instantly making him a senior! It was a bit hard for Han Li to get used to.
Still, seeing people about his own age greet and bow to him felt quite pleasant!
"Is Sect Leader Zhong here? I need to see him about some matters." Han Li said in a dignified manner.
These two Qi Refining stage disciples exchanged a glance upon hearing Han Li's words, then the one on the right replied:
"The Sect Leader has gone to the Hundred Mechanisms Hall on business, but he should be back soon. Would the Senior like to wait in the main hall for a moment?"
Han Li slightly furrowed his brow, but immediately recovered, speaking in an indifferent tone:
"Very well. In that case, I'll wait."
"Of course! Please follow me, Senior."
The other disciple was also quite alert. He took two steps back and began leading the way for Han Li.
Han Li followed the young man through the main hall and was brought to a slightly larger room. The room was not only clean and tidy but also had several calligraphic works and paintings hanging on the four walls, giving it an atmosphere of refined elegance.
"Senior, please rest here for a moment. As soon as the Sect Leader returns, this disciple will immediately inform him!" The youth skillfully brewed a pot of fragrant tea for Han Li, then withdrew.
Han Li watched the young man's retreating figure, nodding slightly, but also shaking his head!
He nodded because the youth's awareness and behavior were entirely satisfactory, without the slightest flaw to criticize. It was clear he had received specialized training to perform so well!
And he shook his head because he felt a certain sympathy for these low-ranked disciples!
A cultivator should be diligently seclude himself to cultivate techniques, yet here he was, having to serve like a mortal servant—guarding the door, pouring tea, and attending to guests. It was truly lamentable!
Thinking back, if he hadn't used a Foundation Establishment Pill to bribe the old man surnamed Ye, his own situation might not have been much better than this young man's. He would have had to bow when appropriate, speak humbly when necessary, and perhaps even be in a worse position!
Just as Han Li was sipping his tea in the room, lost in a whirl of thoughts, Sect Leader Zhong soon returned.
When he heard from the guarding disciples that a young Foundation Establishment cultivator was looking for him, he felt a slight surprise. According to the disciples' description, the person was unfamiliar, and he couldn't match them to any of the hundreds of Foundation Establishment disciples he knew.
"Twenty-five or twenty-six years old, somewhat dark skin, ordinary appearance—who could this be?" Zhong Lingdao walked briskly toward the reception room where Han Li was waiting, carrying three parts astonishment and two parts curiosity.
As soon as he entered the room, he saw a medium-built young man wearing Yellow Maple Valley robes, standing with his back to him, facing a painting of myriad flowers on the wall, examining it with great interest!
However, the young man clearly heard Sect Leader Zhong enter, because he immediately turned around and bowed respectfully:
"Sect Leader Senior Brother! Junior Han Li pays his respects to the Sect Leader!"
"Han Li?"
Sect Leader Zhong found the name somewhat familiar, as if he had heard it before! But after taking a closer look at the person, aside from finding him somewhat familiar, he couldn't quite recall who he was. This made him feel a bit embarrassed, and a hint of awkwardness appeared on his face.
"Junior... Junior Brother Han, please have a seat! No need to stand on ceremony. As Sect Leader, I've been occupied with various matters and arrived a bit late. Please don't mind!"
Zhong Lingdao was an old fox who had weathered countless storms. With a few casual, vague words, he easily dispelled the awkward atmosphere of not recognizing the person.
Han Li wasn't surprised that Sect Leader Zhong didn't recognize him!
After all, the last time Han Li had met this person was five years ago. Back then, he had been nothing more than a lowly Qi Refining stage disciple with poor aptitude. The other party naturally wouldn't have taken him to heart, let alone formed a deep impression. If the Sect Leader had recognized him at first glance, Han Li would have been truly shocked!