78: The Azure Emperor's Longevity Formula

Following Elder Shou Ge, he walked through rows of wooden shelves, his gaze lingering on the dazzling array of Cultivation Technique manuals.

Elder Shou Ge would also occasionally introduce some exceptionally excellent wood-attribute Cultivation Technique manuals to him.

"This is the 'Ten Thousand Wood Spring Harmony Art', created by the Immortal of Ten Thousand Woods thousands of years ago. When this Cultivation Technique is cultivated to a profound level, it can stimulate all spirit plants within a radius of several miles to grow simultaneously, which is quite spectacular..."

"That 'Azure Wood Transformation Art' over there is rumored to have been created by a Disciple of the Azure Emperor. It is quite unique; it is said that after cultivating it to the extreme, one can grant spirit plants temporary intelligence. However, this Cultivation Technique has quite high requirements for Comprehension Ability and Spiritual Root grade. If you are interested, you can give it a try."

...

Elder Shou Ge patiently introduced one magical Cultivation Technique after another to him, and Lin Yan felt his heart burning with excitement.

Although the Spirit Herb Hall was just a bottom-tier hall, its configuration of Cultivation Technique manuals was indeed top-tier.

The Sect's heritage was too deep; the Sword Pavilion was truly worthy of being one of the The Seven Great Dao Lineages of the Human Race!

But good Cultivation Technique manuals all had one drawback: they were expensive.

They cost five or even six figures in merit points.

"Elder, I like all the Cultivation Technique manuals you introduced." Lin Yan paused, then said somewhat awkwardly: "It's just that..."

"Hahaha, is my martial nephew finding them too expensive?" Elder Shou Ge laughed.

"..." Lin Yan was speechless.

Asking himself, was this price expensive?

Not expensive!

In the outside world, small Schools and Loose Cultivators would fight tooth and nail for these, and it would be normal for blood to flow like a river.

"I can only blame myself for being too poor!" Lin Yan sighed.

Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to a shimmering Jade Slip on the highest shelf.

In front of that Jade Slip lay a tattered introduction to a Cultivation Technique, with the words "Azure Emperor" faintly visible on the cover.

"That is..." Lin Yan walked closer involuntarily.

The Elder followed his gaze and sighed softly: "Oh, you are talking about that remnant of the 'Azure Emperor Longevity Art'."

Lin Yan's heart rate accelerated: "Azure Emperor? Is that the Azure Emperor who created the method of catalyzing spirit plants and is known as the ancestor of Spirit Plant Masters?"

"Exactly." The Elder nodded, his expression carrying a hint of reminiscence: "The Azure Emperor is the ancestor of Spirit Plant Masters, and he pioneered the method of Dual Cultivation between Cultivator and spirit plant."

"This 'Azure Emperor Longevity Art' is the Azure Emperor's Cultivation Technique. It is said to have nine stages in total and is the supreme Cultivation Technique that Spirit Plant Masters dream of."

Lin Yan carefully opened the tattered introduction, only to see written on the title page: "Azure Emperor Longevity Art, draw in Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, communicate with the spirit of vegetation, fuse Heaven and Earth into one heart..."

Although it was just an introduction, the Profound Truth contained between the lines already made him yearn for it.

After roughly flipping through the introduction, Lin Yan frowned.

This 'Azure Emperor Longevity Art' was missing a lot, with only the introduction to the first three stages.

"Why are there only the first three stages?" Lin Yan asked eagerly: "Where is the complete Cultivation Technique? Is it in the Inner Sect?"

Elder Shou Ge shook his head and said: "The Inner Sect does not have the complete 'Azure Emperor Longevity Art' either; the entire Sword Pavilion does not have it."

"Even the Sword Pavilion doesn't have it? Could this Cultivation Technique be lost?" Lin Yan asked, puzzled.

If even the top traditions didn't have the Legacy, then it was highly likely that it couldn't be found anywhere in the entire Canglan Realm.

Elder Shou Ge's expression also carried a hint of confusion: "This is exactly the most perplexing part."

He continued: "It is rumored that thousands of years ago, the 'Azure Emperor Longevity Art' was suddenly lost. The complete nine-stage Cultivation Technique disappeared overnight, leaving only these remnants."

"There seems to be some unspeakable trickery involved, so martial nephew need not dwell on it."

Putting down the introduction, Lin Yan's fingers gently brushed over the ancient Jade Slip, and he asked with a heart full of regret:

"Does the Azure Emperor's Cultivation Technique have any special features?"

Elder Shou Ge replied: "Naturally, it does. The 'Azure Emperor Longevity Art' can greatly enhance a Cultivator's vitality. It is rumored that after cultivating it to Perfection, one can achieve Rebirth from a drop of blood!"

"Hiss..." Lin Yan's heart burned with excitement.

Rebirth from a drop of blood!

It was too suitable for a cautious Cultivator like him.

Elder Shou Ge continued to explain: "Besides that, there are many other benefits, such as higher efficiency in catalyzing spirit plants, and it can even increase the mutation probability of spirit plants..."

Lin Yan exclaimed: "Improve catalyzing efficiency? Increase the mutation probability of spirit plants? For a Spirit Plant Master, this is simply a dream ability."

Elder Shou Ge shook his head and explained further:

"That may be so, but according to the Seniors who have studied the remnants, the 'Azure Emperor Longevity Art' is too severely damaged. At most, one can Cultivate it to Minor Achievement. Not only can one not achieve Rebirth from a drop of blood, but the increase in the mutation probability of spirit plants is also negligible..."

"To put it bluntly, this remnant of the 'Azure Emperor Longevity Art' is just a decent Cultivation Technique now, and its value is not high."

"I see." Lin Yan sighed: "What a pity!"

After pondering for a moment, he picked up the Jade Slip and said: "Elder, I still want to try this 'Azure Emperor Longevity Art'."

The reason was simple: this 'Azure Emperor Longevity Art' was cheap, costing only one thousand merit points.

"Alright." Elder Shou Ge said without hesitation.

"..." Lin Yan looked at him, somewhat surprised.

He thought Elder Shou Ge would advise him not to be stubborn.

Unexpectedly, the other party smiled slightly and said: "Haha, is my martial nephew wondering why I didn't try to dissuade you?"

"Yes..." Lin Yan said.

Elder Shou Ge glanced at him, raising his eyebrows: "It's no big deal. This remnant only has the first three stages, so you will definitely encounter a Bottleneck after cultivating to a certain level."

"But don't worry, many later Cultivation Techniques were improved based on the 'Azure Emperor Longevity Art'. Take the 'Azure Wood Technique' you are currently cultivating; the two are completely compatible."

"In fact, the 'Azure Wood Technique' you are currently cultivating can itself be seen as a simplified version of the 'Azure Emperor Longevity Art'."

Lin Yan nodded thoughtfully: "In other words, my current cultivation of the 'Azure Emperor Longevity Art' will not be a waste of effort?"

"Exactly so." The Elder smiled, "You can try cultivating this remnant first. If you encounter a Bottleneck, you can then concurrently Cultivate or switch to some other compatible Cultivation Techniques."

"The Dao is long and boundless. You are still young, so you can try and seek more; perhaps you might even carve out your own path."

Lin Yan nodded, bowed respectfully to Elder Shou Ge, and said in a respectful tone:

"This Disciple has been taught!"

At this moment, he understood the Sword Pavilion's free-range training model for Disciples a little better.

This was the true elite training model.

Because true elites do not need others to define their growth path; they will explore and forge ahead themselves.

...

Afterwards, Lin Yan paid the merit points and obtained the remnant of the 'Azure Emperor Longevity Art'.

"So expensive, a remnant alone costs one thousand merit points..." Lin Yan grimaced in pain.

After exchanging for the 'Azure Emperor Longevity Art' remnant, Lin Yan did not leave immediately.

He turned and walked towards the secret technique area of the Scripture Pavilion, where various precious secret techniques were collected.

"There is one more thing..." Lin Yan muttered to himself: "I need a concealment secret technique."

He came to the secret technique area and searched carefully.

On a bookshelf in the corner, he discovered an inconspicuous secret technique, the 'Wood Spirit Concealment Technique'.

Opening the introduction, he saw that it was a secret technique capable of restraining one's aura and hiding one's cultivation level. It was not very special, but it was not bad either.

The introduction claimed that after cultivating it to Perfection, this technique could completely hide all of one's own Qi, including spiritual power fluctuations and Sword Intent fluctuations.

Of course, Lin Yan knew this was likely bragging.

Because hiding one's aura is relative.

A secret technique that completely conceals aura from Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators might not work in front of Purple Mansion Cultivators or Golden Core Cultivators.

"This is it." Lin Yan did not hesitate: "It will definitely be enough for me!"

In fact, he had no other choice; he only had three hundred merit points left, and this 'Wood Spirit Concealment Technique' was worth three hundred merit points.

He just wanted to use this secret technique to hide his budding Sword Intent so that Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators wouldn't be able to see it.

Lin Yan took the Jade Slip and returned to the Elder: "Elder, I also want to exchange for this 'Wood Spirit Concealment Technique'."

The Elder took the Jade Slip and glanced at it:

"A good choice. Concealment techniques can save your life at certain times; they are essential for traveling in Jianghu. Three hundred merit points."

After paying the merit points, Lin Yan obtained the 'Wood Spirit Concealment Technique'.

"Many thanks, Elder." Lin Yan bowed respectfully.

The Elder smiled and nodded: "Go, if you have any questions about cultivation, you can come and find me."