35: Exchange Techniques

For three days after the award ceremony, Lin Ye did not leave his wooden hut for even half a step.

He publicly announced that he had forcefully activated a secret technique during the Minor Competition, which damaged his Foundation, and thus required quiet recuperation. This perfect excuse isolated him from all external disturbances, allowing him to safely enjoy the fruits of his victory.

Inside the wooden hut, Lin Ye sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed.

He carefully put away the bottle of precious Low Grade Bone Tempering Medicinal Pills, then, without hesitation, he devoured the two bottles containing a total of twenty Low Grade qi and blood pills within three days, as if they were mere beans!

If this scene were witnessed by other Outer Sect Disciples, they would probably faint from shock on the spot.

Such a massive amount of qi and blood pills would be enough to make an ordinary Disciple bleed from all seven orifices and die!

However, Lin Ye's body was like a bottomless black hole, devouring all the immense Qi and blood power transformed from these Medicinal Pills without a single ripple.

These energies perfectly replenished the huge deficit he had accumulated over the past month due to extreme dual AFK cultivation and frantic labor.

When he opened his eyes again, the previous “weakness” and “paleness” were gone. His eyes shone like stars in the dark night, and his seemingly thin body was filled with an unprecedented, explosive power!

“It’s time to prepare for entering the Inner Sect.”

Lin Ye slowly exhaled a turbid breath, his gaze calm and profound.

He calmly analyzed his current strength.

The third layer of Golden Bell Shield, “Bone Forging,” granted him terrifying defense like a bronze wall and iron fortress.

The Minor Achievement of Iron Sand Palm made his close-combat attacks full of deadly threats.

With offense and defense integrated, it seemed there were no longer any shortcomings.

But Lin Ye knew very well that his current fighting style was too clumsy and too singular.

“My defense is strong enough, and my attack is fierce enough, but… I’m too slow!”

In a confined space like an arena, he could stand his ground and output damage with his powerful defense. But if he were in the wild, facing an enemy much faster than himself, if the opponent didn't confront him head-on but merely kept moving around and harassing him, then his “turtle shell” would eventually be worn down to nothing!

“I need a movement Cultivation Technique! A movement Cultivation Technique that allows me to catch up to enemies and also allows me to escape when in danger!”

Besides that, he also needed more varied attack methods.

Although Iron Sand Palm was powerful, it was ultimately bare-handed, and its attack range was too short. Once the distance was pulled, he would become a living target.

“Sword!”

This thought instantly became incredibly clear.

The sword, the king of all weapons. In this Cultivation world, it was also the most mainstream weapon for Cultivators. A profound sword technique could not only compensate for his lack of attack range but also allow his strength to undergo a qualitative leap!

With his goal clear, Lin Ye no longer hesitated.

From his embrace, he took out a special token, engraved with the words “Inner Sect,” personally bestowed by the Grand Elder.

This was one of the privileges given to the top ten strong Cultivators — the ability to enter the Inner Sect in advance and gain one opportunity to enter the Inner Sect Scripture Pavilion!

...Following the faint guidance within the token, Lin Ye, for the first time, stepped onto the white jade steps leading to the Inner Sect.

Unlike the noisy and mundane Outer Sect, as soon as he stepped into the Inner Sect's territory, a rich Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, almost solidifying, rushed towards him!

Just by taking a breath, Lin Ye felt that his Meridians, which had become somewhat dry due to Body Refining, were slightly moisturized.

Cranes cried among the clouds and mist, waterfalls cascaded from mountain gorges, and exquisite pavilions and terraces were scattered gracefully amidst the green pines and cypresses.

This was truly the ambiance of an immortal realm!

Lin Ye sighed inwardly, but he dared not linger. Holding the token, he avoided the Inner Sect Disciples who occasionally passed by, exuding powerful auras, and went straight to the core area of the Inner Sect — a nine-story glazed pagoda that was more than ten times grander than the stone tower in the Outer Sect.

This was the Inner Sect Scripture Pavilion!

At the entrance, he handed the token to an Inner Sect Senior Brother who was guarding it. The Senior Brother initially looked impatient, but upon seeing the Grand Elder's mark on the token, his expression suddenly changed, and when he looked at Lin Ye again, his eyes held a hint of reverence.

“So it’s Junior Brother Lin Ye, please come in. According to the rules, you have two hours to choose.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

Lin Ye walked into the pagoda, and a Spiritual Qi even purer than the outside, mixed with the unique fragrance of ancient Jade Slips, rushed towards him.

Unlike the cluttered bookshelves in the Outer Sect, here, rows of jade shelves made of thousand-year-old warm jade neatly displayed Jade Slips emitting a faint Spiritual light.

Each Jade Slip represented a profound Cultivation Technique!

Lin Ye suppressed the shock in his heart and went straight for his goal.

He first came to the area marked “Movement Technique.”

Phantom Step, Wave Walking, Eight-Step Cicada Sprint... various impressive-sounding movement Cultivation Techniques dazzled him.

He picked up the Jade Slips one by one, extending his Divine Sense into them to read the Cultivation Technique summaries.

Finally, he chose a movement Cultivation Technique called Wind Control Art.

This movement Cultivation Technique was of Profound Rank Low Grade, not top-tier, but it excelled in being simple and direct. It didn't have those flashy footwork changes; it only pursued one thing — speed! When Cultivated to a profound level, one could Move like willow catkins, riding the wind, with incredible speed.

“Exchange price: one hundred fifty contribution points.”

Lin Ye nodded and put this Jade Slip into his embrace.

Immediately, he came to the “Weapon” area and walked directly to the sword technique category.

The Jade Slips here were even more dazzling, and many of them even exuded sharp Sword Intent.

Surging Wave Sword Technique, Falling Leaf Sword Technique, Seven Star Sword Art... Lin Ye's mind was ultimately drawn to a Jade Slip that was entirely cyan.

He picked it up and extended his Divine Sense into it.

“Wind Chasing Sword Technique, Profound Rank Medium Grade. The sword is like a swift wind, faster than lightning. This sword technique does not emphasize Moves, but only sword speed and sword momentum. When the sword momentum rises, it is like a raging storm passing through, continuous and endless; where the sword edge falls, it is like thunder and lightning, a single strike to kill. To Cultivate this method, one needs a very high Comprehension Ability of the Concept of ‘wind’.”

“This is it!”

A sharp glint flashed in Lin Ye’s eyes.

His own advantage was his “Comprehension Ability,” which far surpassed ordinary people and was instilled by the System! This sword technique was practically tailor-made for him!

He looked at the price.

“Exchange price: three hundred contribution points.”

Lin Ye, without hesitation, took these two Jade Slips to the exchange counter on the first floor of the pagoda.

The person in charge of the exchange was an old man who was resting with his eyes closed. Feeling someone approach, he slowly opened his eyes.

“Oh? A little fellow who practices Body Refining?” The old man's cloudy eyes seemed to see through Lin Ye's essence. “Have you chosen?”

“Replying to Elder, this Disciple has chosen.” Lin Ye respectfully handed over the two Jade Slips and his identity token.

The old man took the Jade Slips, glanced at them, and raised his eyebrows slightly: “Wind Control Art? Wind Chasing Sword Technique? Heh heh, little fellow, your ambition isn't small. You want to Body Refining, Cultivate movement Cultivation Technique, and also practice sword?”

He shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of admonishment: “If you grasp too much, you won't chew it well. On the path of Cultivation, the most taboo thing is to be impure and miscellaneous. Since you have the talent for Body Refining, you should devote all your attention to it, specializing in one Dao, that is the correct path.”

“This Disciple… this Disciple is foolish,” Lin Ye immediately put on that familiar honest expression, scratching his head, “This Disciple just feels that running a bit faster makes it harder to get hit. And having a sword in hand… makes me feel a bit more at ease.”

This simple, almost “silly” answer, made the old man slightly stunned, then he burst into laughter.

“Alright, alright, you ‘fool’ always have some twisted logic.”

“Four hundred fifty contribution points, already deducted.”

Lin Ye respectfully bowed and turned to leave.

Returning to the wooden hut in the Outer Sect, which he was about to leave, Lin Ye finally let out a long sigh after closing the door.

He placed the two Jade Slips, emitting a faint Spiritual light, on the bed board, his eyes burning with an unprecedented flame called “ambition.”

The Outer Sect was, after all, just the starting point.

A vaster world awaited in the Inner Sect!

There, there were more Advanced Cultivation Techniques, more abundant resources, and… greater challenges!

He was already impatient to embark on his brand new — AFK Cultivation journey!