This made Ling Han extremely shocked.
Reaching the Spiritual Infant Tier, one would be able to brand a weapon with martial intent, and with long-term nourishment, it could become a Spirit Tool. After advancing into the Flower Blossom Tier, one could brand with martial intent special materials to create spirit talismans.
Spiritual Infant Tier warriors were even more kickass, writing their martial intent into law decrees which could suppress the world!
Of course, Deity Transformation and Heaven Tier elites could also write law decrees that were more powerful. Ling Han also wrote law decrees in the previous life; it was very convenient, intimidating enemies without personally taking the field.
However, sealing martial intent into alcohol that could be taken in and made for personal use… Ling Han could only be impressed with this method.
Martial artists refined Origin Crystals and could also leave a trace of martial intent, but it was far from being comparable to this.
Feng Po Yun was a grandmaster in the way of the sword!
The reason he left martial intent in Monkey Wine was obviously because he also saw that Ling Han was a sword user, so he specially helped him. This martial intent was extremely pure, without a shred of impurity; it was simply the supreme comprehension of the way of the sword.
For Ling Han, this gift was truly priceless!
Five days ago, Ling Han kept increasing his cultivation; Monkey Wine didn’t increase his tier as crazily as it did the first time, but it still allowed him to reach the sixth layer of the Flower Blossom Tier.
In the following five days, Ling Han studied Feng Po Yun’s sword path, but didn’t absorb it directly, using it as reference.
If absorbed directly, with Feng Po Yun’s level in the way of the sword, it was enough to take the initiative, influencing Ling Han’s own path into only being able to take Feng Po Yun’s path. However, he’d already decided on his own path, so he obviously had to jump out of this loop.
The good qualities of others could serve to polish one’s own qualities.
Feng Po Yun cultivated sentimental sword, extreme in affection. He loved only one person in his entire life, and even after the other person’s death, his feelings didn’t change and his obsession didn’t wane. Honestly, Ling Han couldn’t comprehend such sword intent anyway. It was true that he loved Heavenly Divine Phoenix Maiden, but he definitely couldn’t be as besotted as Feng Po Yun.
He only extracted Feng Po Yun’s comprehension in the way of the sword. After all, this was what Feng Po Yun gained in several hundred years of diligent cultivation, and at the heights of the Shattering Void Tier, it already surpassed the level of Sword Qi and Sword Ray, reaching Sword Heart.
Sword Heart illumination; even with a stalk of grass in hand, one could strike down the stars.
Feng Po Yun’s Sword Heart shined within Ling Han’s consciousness. Ling Han used Feng Po Yun’s Sword Heart to illuminate his own, increasing comprehension on the sword path to form Sword Qi.
After five days, Ling Han flicked his right hand, and shua, shua, shua , nineteen flashes of Sword Qi swept out, while the twentieth flash moved indistinctly at his fingertips, hidden and not unleashed.
It had sprouted.
Ling Han continuously moved his fingers, and the twentieth flash of Sword Qi became thicker and thicker, soon forming.
“The twentieth flash of Sword Qi is a threshold, and after crossing over it, the power at least doubled.” Ling Han nodded. Previously, when he felt immense pressure fighting against Xuanyuan Zi Guang, it was mainly because the opponent grasped Sword Qi that surpassed twenty flashes, achieving a qualitative change.
“Now, fighting against that guy, I have fifty percent chance of winning.
“It can’t be helped that I can’t use Mysterious Three Thousand. The strongest art can’t be used, or else I could decide the outcome in one move.
“While there’s still time, I’ll continue to cultivate Sword Qi. Since I’ve crossed the great threshold of twenty flashes, I should be able to cultivate several more flashes in a short amount of time.”
Feng Po Yun’s Sword Heart’s aura was still present, so Ling Han obviously wouldn’t waste it. This was an extremely rare chance; even Feng Po Yun might not be able to do this that many times. Severing one’s own Sword Heart to give part of it to others was a type of injury to oneself.
Ling Han exclaimed that this big brother was truly a sentimental personal. Just because they became sworn brothers, he generously gave him such an opportunity.
He had to reciprocate this well in the future.
After three more days, Feng Po Yun’s Sword Heart finally disappeared.
Ling Han stopped and waved his right hand; 23 flashes of Sword Qi flashed by, terrifyingly shocking.
“How unfortunate. With a month more, I would push Sword Qi to the limit of 29 flashes!
“But, is 29 flashes truly the limit?”
Ling Han didn’t know. This was something that he would know only after he personally advanced into that level. The so-called limits were made to be broken; for some people, ten flashes was the limit, and for others, twenty flashes was the limit.
He exited. Zhu Xuan Er greeted him, and said, “Brother Han, you finally came out of seclusion. Sister Hong’s almost worried sick. The contest stars the day after tomorrow.”
Ling Han laughed, and said, “Let her worry, I still haven’t taken appearance fees from her.”
“Oh. right…” Zhu Xuan Er took out a few head-sized rocks from a spatial ring. The colors of the rocks varied: there were black ones, yellowish brown ones, and purple ones. “These are the star fragments that big brother struck down—after the people in the city picked them up, they didn’t dare to keep any themselves, giving it to Brohter Han to deal with.”
Fallen star metal!
Ling Han exulted, and examined a few of the meteorites, revealing a smile. He said, “Blood Rainbow Iron, Dragon’s Tooth Gold, Crimson Cloud Bronze Stone… haha, all are seventh tier rare metals!
“Unfortunately, there isn’t even an eighth-tier one. Haha, well, can’t be too greedy; seventh tier rare metal is already not bad.”
Ling Han said to Zhu Xuan Er, “You should change your sword. This is seventh tier rare metal; nourish it daily and brand it with your own martial intent, and it’ll become a seventh-tier Spirit Tool in the future!”
“Thank you, Brother Han!” Zhu Xuan Er said softly, exuding tenderness and love at Ling Han and looking like she would let him do as he pleased.
“Don’t seduce your brother, my will is quite firm!” Ling Han pinched her smooth jade-like chin, and then brought her into the Black Tower. He was going to refine those star metals into weapons.
These could only be called iron ore; from purifying to burnishing, and refinement, it wouldn’t be completed without around half a year’s time even if given to the most remarkable ironsmith.
However, inside the Black Tower, everything became extremely simple.
Ling Han was like a god, unleashing tenth tier divine fire and easily melting these ores. ridding them of impurities. In only half a day, the ores were thoroughly tempered.
“What shape do you like?” Ling Han asked Zhu Xuan Er.
Under Zhu Xuan Er’s constant adjustments, Ling Han forged a precious sword with a thin but extremely sharp blade. This wasn’t a Spirit Tool yet, and needed the constant nourishment of martial intent; the level of the raw material was still there, though.
Ling Han also forged one for himself, but his brute force was too terrifying now. The hundred-pound sword in his hand was no different than an embroidery needle, and didn’t feel heavy at all.
Next, Ling Han forged a bow and ten arrows for himself, but the bowstring still had to be found otherwise.
After completing all this, the Spirit Treasures Pavilion’s once-in-three-years contest was finally about to start.
Chapter 576
Translator: Reverie_ Editor: Kurisu
Ling Han found Yin
Hong and told her that he would not only attend the alchemy contest, but also take part in the martial arts contest.
“Already anticipated it, this o’lady already reported your name,” Yin Hong said unreservedly.
“You acted first then reported later? Wouldn’t you fear that I’m naturally loving of peace and never fight and kill?” Ling Han said with a smile.
“Pah, you look like the bellicose type at first glance, especially when encountering geniuses of the same age range—you probably dream of trampling them, let alone Xuanyuan Zi Guang who has intentions about your wife!” Yin Hong gave him a harsh look.
“That Hai Niu really isn’t my wife.” Ling Han sighed.
“Not your wife? Then why does she stick to you so tightly?” Yin Hong obviously didn’t believe him, and winked at the woman who was grabbing onto the hem of his clothes while holding onto a brick with the other hand.
Ling Han sighed again. Helian Xun Xue stuck to him now, and was even stickier than Hu Niu. At least Hu Niu could be coaxed with food, but this Hai Niu was obviously not a chowhound.
“I get it! I get it! Newlyweds, loveydovey!” Yin Hong looked like she understood clearly. “I won’t bother you guys doing your thing. Remember, tomorrow at noon is the alchemy contest, don’t exhaust too much of your spirit that you won’t even be able to refine pills when the time comes.”
“Female rascal!” Ling Han said powerlessly.
For the alchemy emperor, an alchemy contest was obviously a piece of cake, and wasn’t something to worry about. For now, Ling Han still put his energy on martial arts; he wanted to adhere the bone patterns on the combined Sword Qi.
The Old Vicious Mongoose’s bone patterns were truly incredible, being able to increase destructive power by one- to twofold. With the power of Ling Han’s current 23 flashes of combined Sword Qi, if the bone patterns could be adhered onto them… well, even if it couldn’t be compared to Sword Ray, it wouldn’t be far from it.
If the bone patterns could be adhered onto it, Ling Han would have the confidence to take down Xuanyuan Zi Guang; otherwise, it would be a fifty-fifty chance.
“Additionally, since I’ve combined Sword Qi, it could be called a pseudo-Ray. Maybe I can try using 10,000 Techniques Return to One?
“On the basis of Mysterious Three Thousand, combining three thousand attacks into one, such an attack… even if I advance into the Spiritual Infant Tier and my physique is comparable to same tier rare metal, it can still be slashed through as long as the weapon is gelivable 1 enough!
“Against the Heaven’s Sword Sect, I certainly must be more careful. These ancient sects stood erect possibly no less than twenty thousand years ago, possessing countless precious tools, with no shortage of the ninth tier and tenth tier ones. If they fired 10,000 Techniques Return to One at me, then that wouldn’t be a joke anymore.”
Inside the Black Tower, Ling Han deduced the 10,000 Techniques Return to One. It couldn’t be activated at all relying on normal Sword Qi, but after cultivating Sword Ray, the obscure and hard to understand sword secrets became smooth and simple.
However, Ling Han formed a pseudo-Ray, so he still deduced it slowly. As the sword swirled, the Sword Qi was extremely unstable.
He named this new sword “Purple Bale Sword,” because it was forged from Purplish Gold Dragon Pattern Metal. In terms of its current power, it actually still couldn’t be compared to the bone sword; it was just slightly sharper, and slighty more durable.
It couldn’t be helped. The bone sword was a genuine sixth tier Spirit Tool with a Ba Xia’s martial intent, and with a swing of the sword, the terrifying pressure was like a mountain. However, the Purple Bale Sword won in potential. As long as Ling Han continued to nourish it with his own martial intent, it would definitely become a Spirit Tool given enough time.
“However, this at least needs a dozen to twenty years, and at that time, I would definitely have advanced into the Heaven Tier, and this sword wouldn’t be of much use to me.
“Sigh, the increase in tier is too fast in this life. Getting a good weapon, I actually can’t nourish it into a Spirit Tool before having to change it, such hardship!”
Though he complained, Ling Han’s smile was extremely bright; who didn’t want their cultivation progression to soar?
“It’d be best if I can get a divine metal to settle the matter in one go, refining my personal Spirit Tool from it. Unfortunately, divine metals only exist in legends. If a piece appeared, even Shattering Void Tier elites would fight desperately for it, and I really wouldn’t qualify to contest.
“Whatever, I should just keep my mind on sword training.”
In a night, Ling Han acquired only slight improvement on 10,000 Techniques Return to One, but received quite the inspiration in the adherence of bone patterns; if he had one more day, he should be able to be able to achieve substantive progress.
However, the day was already bright, and soon, it would be noon.
Ling Han exited the Black Tower, and after eating casually, he went to the alchemy contest with Zhu Xuan Er and the other two girls.
East, South, West, and North, the four regions’ Spirit Treasures Pavilion subbranches; in addition to its headquarters in middle state, over hundred people gathered at once.
Such a contest not only concerned the glory of each subbranch or the headquarters, it also had substantive meaning… Yin Hong and the others were future candidates for the Spirit Treasures Pavilion’s Pavilion Masters; their current performance would be scored, influencing whether they could become candidate Pavilion Masters.
For this reason, Yin Hong and the others set their hearts on this matter the way they did.
In addition to Yin Hong, there were four others forming the framework of the younger generation: Yin Hao Qi (east region), Yin Zhi Ming (west region), Yin Le (north region), Yin Si Miao (middle state).
Their performance was to be observed for twenty years, after which one of them would be chosen as the candidate Pavilion Master. Then they would continue to select five Yin Family’s youngsters who would undergo the examination, choosing a Pavilion Master candidate among them.
Amongst the current nine Pavilion Masters, should any die from old age or an accident, he would have his position inherited by the candidate Pavilion Master. One radish, one hole… many people were lining up to rise to the position.
Each sub-pavilion announced their candidate that would partake in the alchemy contest. They were all able to invite amazing alchemy geniuses, and the one with the highest title was a low level Earth Grade alchemist at a mere 29 years old, extremely amazing.
This person was called Xuan Ji Yun, and was from the south region. Meanwhile, the other three regions invited alchemists that were all high level Yellow Grade.
Being able to reach high level Yellow Grade before thirty years old, it was already a very impressive thing. This was also related to the environment… The environment became better, and with more spirit grass, it increased the amount of times alchemy masters could refine high level medicinal pills.
Refining pills was about how much one attempted concocting and how much one learnt from their failures before achieving succes.
For example, let’s consider failing 99 times before success. With the environment in Ling Han’s former lifetime, it might take 99 years to procure the necessary amount of ingredients; however, now, 30-50 years was enough, so the situation was obviously incomparable.
Therefore, no matter whether it was martial arts geniuses or alchemy eccentrics, they jumped out one by one like they weren’t anything special at all. The environment changed—it was all.
The alchemy contest was the one with least suspense. Once Xuan Ji Yun’s title of low level Earth Grade alchemist was publicized, it was already equal to announcing his victory, making the other three families alchemists lose fighting spirit. Only Yin Hon was still filled with confidence.
What a joke. The alchemist that she invited was a Heaven Grade alchemist, alright?
Cha
pter 577
Translator: Reverie_ Editor: Kurisu
“Is there still need to have a contest?” Yin Le said. Although appearing indifferent, it was clear he was arrogant at heart.
In the alchemy contest, he invited a low-level Earth Grade alchemists, and in the martial arts round, he was even able to invite the freakish Xuanyuan Zi Guang. Moreover, he mainly cultivated formations, and had already become a sixth tier formation master.
No matter what, he should have the absolute advantage in this contest, adding it as an extremely glorious experience to his background.
“Why not?” Yin Hong crossed her arms, completely propping out her grand breasts as if complaining that others didn’t know how large they were. “Maybe your alchemist will be met with unexpected failure.”
“That’s right, pill refining is a meticulous task, and any carelessness could result in utter defeat. Clan Brother Le’s too self-satisfied,” Yin Hao Qi said as well.
“Then let’s have a contest!”
Under the surveillance of the elders in the clan, the alchemy contest began.
Everyone in the family could actually send three alchemists onto the field to choose one of the best scores. Yin Le was filled with confidence, sending only Xuan Ji Yun. Yin Hong obviously trusted Ling Han even more, also sending one person.
The other three families used all three quotas in fear of a mistake, adding on insurance.
Furnace’s exploding in pill refinement was an extremely common thing. Even Tang Zi Shi and Nong Bo Xin, two Heaven Grade alchemists, couldn’t guarantee a hundred percent pill formation rate, let alone other people.
In the alchemy contest, there was only one chance, and it would be over if the furnace exploded.
First was selecting the ingredients to confirm what type of pill one wanted to refine.
This involved a great deal of gambling.
Alchemy Emperor of the Divine Dao c1-1294 Page 301