Among all of Han Yi's skills, the Sword Control Technique possessed both the greatest power and the highest level of advancement.
Although named the Sword Control Technique, the Proficiency Panel's modifications had transformed it into something vastly superior to ordinary sword control methods. Han Yi, however, couldn't be bothered to rename it and continued to call it the Sword Control Technique.
Typically, the Sword Control Technique was merely a foundational skill for manipulating a magic sword, making it move freely. After advancing to the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining, cultivators experienced significant increases in their Mana and Divine Sense, allowing them to begin cultivating this technique.
Cultivators who mastered the Sword Control Technique would then learn a true Sword Technique, which represented their actual combat prowess.
"Technique" served as the foundation for "Capability." The combination of both formed the true strength of a Sword Cultivator.
Han Yi found himself in an awkward position.
His "Technique" was far ahead of his "Capability," the Li Fire Sword Manual. Even with the Manual, his overall combat power increased by less than twenty percent. In most cases, enemies that couldn't be defeated with the Sword Control Technique alone remained unconquerable even when combined with the Li Fire Sword Manual.
Of course...
If Han Yi could elevate the Li Fire Sword Manual to the same level as his Sword Control Technique, things would be different.
However, for Han Yi at this moment, it was crucial to break through to a new level with at least one of his skills, especially his primary combat technique, the Sword Control Technique.
According to his calculations, once the Sword Control Technique reached a higher level, he would fear no cultivator below the Golden Core stage. Furthermore, upon reaching the Late Foundation Establishment stage, he might even stand a chance against a Golden Core cultivator.
Of course, this was merely a possibility, based on his past observations and knowledge. Whether it would prove true remained to be seen.
Having fully clarified his plan, Han Yi immediately immersed himself in cultivation.
He drew the Black Light Broken Sword and, using the Sword Control Technique, commanded it to orbit him continuously within the thirty-square-meter space.
As he practiced the Sword Control Technique, new insights flooded his mind in a steady stream, slowly but surely propelling his progress.
An hour later, Han Yi opened his eyes and shook his head.
"Not enough. Still too slow."
"My mana and Divine Sense aren't being significantly depleted, yet progress is too slow."
With a thought, he summoned his second sword artifact, the Green Ripple Sword, which slowly rose into the air and began to circle and weave around him in a perpetual dance.
Two hours later, his third sword artifact, the Fire Mist Sword, joined the rotation.
Three hours later, Han Yi halted the three swirling sword artifacts.
Then, he retrieved the Seven Stars Kunwu Sword, activated the Sword Control Technique, and set it spinning around him. This time, he felt immense pressure. Controlling this Magic Treasure proved considerably more strenuous, but as his proficiency with the Sword Control Technique advanced, he began to grasp more within the same time frame.
A surge of joy welled up within him.
A day later, while still controlling the Seven Stars Kunwu Sword, Han Yi added the Green Ripple Sword to his repertoire.
Three days later, he attempted to incorporate the Black Light Broken Sword as well. However, the overwhelming pressure proved too much to bear, so he reluctantly switched to the Fire Mist Sword instead.
Ten days later...
Inside the rented Meditation Chamber, a thirty-square-meter space, Han Yi sat cross-legged in the center. Around him, four sword artifacts whirled continuously, each emitting a distinct, vibrant glow.
The Seven Stars Kunwu Sword moved slowest, radiating a faint violet light.
The Green Ripple Sword pulsed with cyan-black sword light, while the Black Light Broken Sword emitted a sinister black sword light. The Fire Mist Sword blazed with fiery red light.
The interplay of these hues transformed the chamber into an ethereal spectacle, casting Han Yi, seated in the midst of it all, in the radiant glow of an Immortal.
A low, muffled whistling sound occasionally echoed through the chamber.
At a certain moment...
Among the four sword artifacts, the fastest, the Fire Mist Sword, suddenly emitted a piercing hum.
Boom!
The Fire Mist Sword instantly broke free from its circling orbit, hurtling forward and embedding itself in the wall of the meditation chamber. The wall shuddered violently, causing the entire inn to tremble three times.
Startled, Han Yi immediately retrieved the Fire Mist Sword and stowed all his sword artifacts away.
Just then, a knock came at the door.
"Fellow Daoist, please open the door."
Han Yi opened the door to find a female cultivator standing outside. She was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, her expression warm rather than cold. Her eyes flickered with surprise as she took in Han Yi.
"Fellow Daoist, please be aware that practicing spells within the Ten Thousand Immortals Inn must not cause any damage to the premises."
Han Yi offered an apologetic smile. "My apologies. I was just starting to grasp something and got a little carried away. Please forgive my recklessness. I'll be more careful from now on."
The female cultivator's eyebrow twitched as she noticed the sword-pierced hole in the meditation chamber wall.
A Sword Cultivator—those cultivators possess devastating offensive power.
"If you wish to practice sword techniques, Fellow Daoist, you can visit the Martial Arts Pavilion. Its spacious training grounds are perfect for your needs."
The Martial Arts Pavilion, another property of the Myriad Immortals Pavilion, provided cultivators with a space to practice their techniques, though renting it was considerably more expensive.
Han Yi nodded in agreement, understanding the female cultivator's concern about him causing further damage. He solemnly assured her, "Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist. If necessary, I will certainly visit the Martial Arts Pavilion."
Seeing Han Yi's sincere demeanor and smooth communication, the female cultivator decided not to press the matter further. After a few final instructions, she turned and left.
Han Yi closed the door and breathed a sigh of relief.
The Ten Thousand Immortals Inn was also a property of the Myriad Immortals Pavilion. If he had truly damaged it, explaining himself would have been difficult.
He resumed his cross-legged meditation posture.
A surge of joy flooded Han Yi's heart.
Before him, a new line on the pale red Proficiency Panel glowed with renewed clarity:
Sword Control Technique (Return to Simplicity 1/100)
This was an entirely new level, a clear sign of his soaring combat prowess.
Han Yi marveled at how he had unknowingly reached the seventh tier of skill mastery.
Beginner, Initial Glimpse of the Dao, Hall Entry, Masterful, Perfected Purity, Peak Perfection, Return to Simplicity...
Each new realm was a whole new world.
The last time Han Yi's Sword Control Technique had reached Peak Perfection was shortly after he advanced to the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement. Leveraging his perfected Sword Control Technique, Spirit Void Finger, and Light Body Technique, he had defeated Peak Qi Refining cultivators while still at the Eighth Layer. Later, after reaching the Advanced Ninth Layer, he had even slain a Legendary Qi Refining cultivator and an injured Demon Cultivator in the Myriad Demon Mountain Range.
However, after advancing to the Foundation Establishment Stage, while these skills remained useful, they no longer possessed their former miraculous potency.
But now...
Breaking through to the Return to Simplicity stage in his Sword Control Technique would undoubtedly grant Han Yi a massive boost in combat prowess. He was confident that he could slay any cultivator below the Golden Core Stage with a single sword strike.
Three days later, Han Yi left the inn, retrieved the map Zhou Su had given him, oriented himself, and soared toward the Eighth Immortal Ring on his sword.
According to Zhou Su's map, the Myriad Immortals Pavilion maintained only three main branches in Shu Capital: one in the Eighth Immortal Ring, where flight was permitted to cater to certain clientele; another in the Sixth Immortal Ring; and a third in the Fourth Immortal Ring.
Han Yi resided in the Ninth Immortal Ring.
He flew to the Eighth Immortal Ring on his sword, landing directly in front of the Myriad Immortals Pavilion marked on his map. He stepped inside.
This branch of the Myriad Immortals Pavilion was far larger than any shop Han Yi had ever seen, dwarfing even the Profound Immortal Pill Shop and the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild to less than one percent of its size.
The colossal pavilion was divided into four floors. The first floor catered to Qi Refining cultivators, while the upper floors served those in the Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul stages.
Upon reaching the second floor, Han Yi found a spacious hall filled with dozens of cultivators browsing the wares. Seven or eight shopkeepers, dressed in uniform robes, stood among them, offering guidance and explaining the merchandise.
The scene reminded Han Yi of a supermarket from his previous life, leaving him deeply astonished.
Given its immense scale, it was no wonder the Myriad Immortals Pavilion was hailed as the largest merchant guild in Great Qian.
"Fellow Daoist," a shopkeeper approached, "the Myriad Immortals Pavilion offers every treasure imaginable. What marvels do you seek? I'd be happy to assist you."
To Han Yi's surprise, the approaching shopkeeper was a female cultivator.
Han Yi felt a twinge of unease. In the past, he rarely interacted with unfamiliar female cultivators during his travels. Yet, on this trip alone, he had already encountered three: the Black-Robed Evil Witch, the female cultivator who inspected rooms at the Ten Thousand Immortals Inn during his previous stay, and now this shopkeeper.
The female shopkeeper appeared to be in her early thirties, with fair skin, gentle features, and her hair neatly coiled into a bun. Her smile was warm and measured, never crossing into familiarity, and her eyes seemed capable of piercing through to the depths of one's heart.
Han Yi's mind sharpened. To become a shopkeeper, especially at the Myriad Immortals Pavilion, one needed exceptional skill.
"May I ask your name, Shopkeeper?" Han Yi inquired.
"This humble one is Shangguan Yun," the female shopkeeper replied.
Han Yi nodded, glanced around, and cut to the chase: "I wish to purchase a spell that can alter my true appearance and aura."
That was indeed one of his primary objectives in visiting the Myriad Immortals Pavilion.
He suspected that during his recent venture into the Seventh Immortal Ring, when he rented an Immortal Boat at the Flying Immortal Pavilion, someone from the Fragrant Teachings might have detected him. Prior to that, his exposure of the Pill Cultivation Field in Jia Mountain City had landed him on the Fragrant Teachings' kill list, akin to a Great Qian imperial warrant circulated throughout the Immortal Kingdom. His likeness had likely already spread like wildfire within the cult.
This seemed the most likely scenario to Han Yi, though other possibilities existed. Perhaps some cultivators within the Great Qian government were also members of the Fragrant Teachings.
Regardless of the truth, if Han Yi altered his appearance and aura, even possessing his portrait would be useless.
"The Myriad Immortals Pavilion offers hundreds of spells to change one's appearance and aura," Shangguan Yun stated, her tone utterly professional. "Fellow Daoist, do you have any other specific requirements for such a spell?"
It was perfectly normal for cultivators visiting the pavilion to purchase magic artifacts, spells, or rare treasures.
"It should be easy to learn but have a high upper limit," Han Yi replied after a moment's thought, adding, "Price isn't an issue."
Shangguan Yun nodded. "Please follow me, Fellow Daoist."
She led Han Yi to the counter and retrieved three Technique Transmission Jade Disks from behind it.
"We have over thirty spells that meet your criteria," she explained. "I've selected the three most outstanding for your consideration. If none appeal to you, we can explore other options. Is that acceptable?"
Han Yi nodded, and Shangguan Yun began her explanation.
"This first spell is called the Hidden Qi Technique. Once mastered, it can alter both your appearance and aura. It's easy to learn, even for cultivators in the early Qi Refining stage, yet its potential is immense. At advanced levels, it can deceive cultivators a full major realm higher than yourself."
Han Yi's eyes lit up, captivated by Shangguan Yun's final remark. As a Mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, he realized that mastering this technique would render his disguises undetectable even to Golden Core True Persons.
"Fellow Daoist, please be patient," Shangguan Yun said gently, noticing Han Yi's eager expression. The Myriad Immortals Pavilion prided itself on its reputation, not quick profits.
"The second spell is the Thousand Shadows Technique. Like the first, it allows you to alter your appearance and aura, creating a thousand different 'shadows' of yourself. Its potential is equally vast, and it's also easy to learn."
Seeing Han Yi's gaze lingering between the first two techniques, Shangguan Yun introduced the third.
"The third spell is the Disguise Technique. While mortals have martial arts of the same name, this version has been modified by a Nascent Soul True Monarch of the Myriad Immortals Pavilion. This upgraded spell not only alters your appearance but also your aura, maintaining the same high potential and ease of learning."
"These three spells each have their own strengths. The Hidden Qi Technique focuses on concealing one's aura, with the added benefit of subtly altering one's appearance. The Thousand Shadows Technique primarily changes one's appearance but can also conceal one's aura. The Disguise Technique strikes a balance between the two, modifying both aura and appearance to an extent between the first two."
"As for the prices, the Hidden Qi Technique costs 300 Low-Grade Spirit Stones, the Thousand Shadows Technique costs 420 Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and the Disguise Technique costs 1,000 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."
"Shopkeeper, are you sure these prices are correct?" Han Yi asked, surprised.
"Fellow Daoist jests," Shangguan Yun replied with a smile, fully aware of his astonishment. "The prices I've stated are naturally accurate."
"All three spells meet your requirements for easy entry and high potential. The basic requirement for entry is simply reaching the Qi Refining Stage."
"Of course, the first two spells are ordinary techniques, so their prices of 300 to 400 Low-Grade Spirit Stones are reasonable."
"The third technique, however, possesses unique qualities that justify its higher price of 1,000 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."
"Naturally, if Fellow Daoist finds these spells too basic, I also have higher-level techniques available, each with its own distinct properties."
Han Yi frowned, utterly perplexed by Shangguan Yun's pricing. Two things bothered him: the first two spells were priced far too low, while the third, the Disguise Technique, was exorbitantly high. A thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones could buy a basic Top-Grade Magic Artifact. For him, spells costing only a few hundred Spirit Stones felt far too cheap.
However, he quickly realized his mistake. "My apologies," Han Yi said. "I was merely surprised by the peculiar pricing; I had no intention of disparaging them."
Han Yi suddenly recalled his most powerful technique, the Sword Control Technique, which he had acquired for only eighty-five Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Moreover, the version he had originally obtained was incomplete, a hybrid between a cultivation technique and a mortal sword art. Yet, thanks to the Proficiency Panel's "Upgrade and Transform" function, his current Sword Control Technique was immeasurably stronger than the original.
This realization sparked an idea. One of the three spells Shangguan Yun had offered shared a similar fundamental nature with the Sword Control Technique: the Disguise Technique.
However, unlike the Sword Control Technique, which had cost only eighty-five Low-Grade Spirit Stones, this Disguise Technique was priced at a staggering thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. Why such a discrepancy?
"Manager Shangguan," Han Yi asked, "if this Disguise Technique was adapted from a mortal martial art, why is it so expensive?"
Shangguan Yun smiled. "Fellow Daoist, please be patient. I'll explain shortly."
"You see, this Disguise Technique was personally upgraded and transformed by our Myriad Immortals Pavilion's Honorary Elder, a True Monarch. In his own words, the original intention behind these modifications wasn't merely to alter appearances and auras, but to enhance one's aura itself."
"Enhance one's aura?" Han Yi asked, puzzled. "Is it even possible to enhance one's aura?"
"Indeed," Shangguan Yun replied. "Our True Monarch had a daring vision: that by mastering this technique, cultivators could acquire the ability to simulate a far more potent aura than their true cultivation level."
"A Foundation Establishment cultivator who reaches an advanced level could mimic the aura of a Golden Core cultivator. A Golden Core cultivator who masters it could imitate the aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator. And a Nascent Soul cultivator who reaches the pinnacle of mastery could even project the aura of a Divine Transformation Great Power."
"This, Fellow Daoist, is why this technique commands such a high price."
Han Yi listened in astonishment, his face registering his surprise.
Shangguan Yun's explanation astonished Han Yi. Spells for concealing one's aura typically lowered it or maintained the same level. Disguising one's aura as being of a higher cultivation stage was generally considered impossible.
Wishful thinking, Han Yi thought.
Yet, if successful, this technique would be truly heaven-defying, and its price would undoubtedly be far more than a mere thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.
"Did the transformation fail?" Han Yi asked.
Shangguan Yun shook her head. "No, it hasn't failed, but it hasn't succeeded either."
"According to the True Monarch who developed this technique, the reason there are no successful cases is that no cultivator has yet reached a profound enough level of mastery."
"Even he couldn't achieve it."
"That's why he listed it for sale at the Myriad Immortals Pavilion."
"To be frank, Fellow Daoist, this technique essentially fulfills all the requirements for spells that conceal auras and alter appearances. That's why we offer it whenever cultivators inquire about such techniques."
"The thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones merely represent the entry threshold for cultivation."
Shangguan Yun's explanation clarified everything for Han Yi.
The True Monarch who transformed this technique intended to use all cultivators who attempted it as experimental subjects.
However...
Han Yi's heart leaped with joy.
Extremely profound?
Doesn't my Proficiency Panel perfectly meet the requirements for cultivating this heaven-defying spell?
Despite his inner elation, Han Yi deliberately hesitated, feigning reluctance. After a moment, he succumbed to temptation and chose the Disguise Technique.
Shangguan Yun's smile remained unchanged. Over sixty percent of Foundation Establishment cultivators who visited Myriad Immortals Pavilion to purchase such spells couldn't resist the allure of the Disguise Technique.
While she doubted whether the spell could ever fully realize its creator's original vision, she was perfectly content with the profit it generated. A thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones was equivalent to the price of a basic Top-Grade Magic Artifact. Though the profit margin per item was modest, the high sales volume more than made up for it.
"Manager Shangguan," Han Yi said, "I'd also like to purchase Spirit Talismans, an Immortal Boat, and some Magic Artifacts with special functions." He paused before settling the bill, adding to his request.
Shangguan Yun's smile widened further. The more Han Yi bought, the larger her commission would be, making her even more delighted.
"Fellow Daoist, please specify your needs in detail," she said. "This humble one will select the most suitable Spirit Talismans and Magic Artifacts for you."
An hour later, Han Yi emerged from Myriad Immortals Pavilion. He glanced up at the pavilion's signboard, then at Shangguan Yun waving from the second-floor window, her smile stretched to its limit. A pang of regret pierced his heart.
It's undeniably expensive...
But undeniably good.