C45 The Second Level of the Primordial Art

"Oh? Let's hear the good news first!" Ye Xiao said, shifting in his seat with anticipation.

"Well, the good news is that my understanding of this world's cultivation system has grown immensely. I've also gained a deeper insight into the continent, which will offer you many advantages in your future endeavors. Plus, my knowledge of pill refining has expanded. With my guidance, you becoming a master Apothecary is well within reach."

Ye Xiao was ecstatic. He knew so little about the continent, and having Ye Qian as a mentor-like figure would undoubtedly save him tremendous effort. The prospect of mastering the art of pill refining, with its prestigious status and the immense value of Pills, thrilled him to the core.

In his excitement, Ye Chen casually inquired, "That's fantastic! But what's the bad news?"

"Uh, I'm not entirely sure," the Qian Yuan Sword admitted, scratching its head in embarrassment.

"What do you mean? How can that be bad news?" Ye Xiao was puzzled. Not knowing counted as bad news?

"Well, from what I remember, it wasn't by chance that I brought you to this world. But as for the specifics, since I've only unlocked the second seal, the details are still unclear," the Qian Yuan Sword explained, pausing briefly.

"Also, we have an enemy in this world, but I don't know who it is..." The Qian Yuan Sword finished, looking somewhat sheepish.

Ye Xiao's expression turned contemplative. While the first revelation was surprising, it wasn't entirely unexpected. The Qian Yuan Sword's profound knowledge of this world and the fact that his own cultivation technique seemed tailor-made for harnessing vital energy had already led him to suspect that his arrival here was no mere coincidence.

"What kind of enemy? How powerful are they? Surely not a Yuan Huang or a Yuan Emperor level adversary?" Ye Xiao asked, his concern growing.

His progress in cultivation was swift, but he was still only at the Master level. If there truly was an enemy of the Yuan Huang or Yuan Emperor caliber, he might not even realize how he met his end.

The Qian Yuan Sword scratched its head again, "Well, I'm not certain of the exact level, but if my memory serves me right, against someone of your master's stature—a Yuan Emperor—a single outburst could wipe out a whole group."

"Holy smokes!"

Ye Xiao was overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness upon hearing the Qian Yuan Sword's revelation. His master was a high-ranking Yuan Emperor, and while not the absolute best on the continent, he was undeniably a top-tier expert. Ye Xiao, who had just broken into the Master level, felt the Yuan Emperor level was impossibly out of reach.

Yet, according to the Qian Yuan Sword, their enemy could wipe out a group of Yuan Emperors with a single fart.

"Qian Yuan Sword, maybe you should just keep the seal intact and finish me off while you're at it. Are you saying all our hard work in cultivation is just to reach the Yuan Emperor level, only to be blasted to death by a fart?" Ye Xiao quipped, his tone light but the underlying pressure immense. Facing an enemy of unknown strength would leave anyone feeling defeated.

The Qian Yuan Sword was at a loss for words. He was well aware of the immense pressure this enigmatic enemy placed on Ye Xiao, but with most of his memories sealed, he couldn't offer any additional information.

"It's probably not that bad. I don't know who the enemy is, but with your current level of cultivation, you're not even on their radar, even if you were a hundred or eighty times stronger. Plus, it's unlikely they'll find you easily," the Qian Yuan Sword said, somewhat sheepishly.

"Alright, I'll just keep pushing forward with my cultivation. When I'm strong enough, I'll face whatever ridiculous enemy is out there and see if they can really fart me to death!" Ye Xiao responded nonchalantly.

"By the way, I've unlocked the second seal and found an Essence Art that you can learn. I'm ready to teach it to you," the Qian Yuan Sword said, steering away from the somber subject.

"Essence Art?" Ye Xiao perked up, eager to learn. He had long anticipated the chance to master Essence Arts.

"The first one is called Thousand Shadows, a movement technique. The second is the Mystical Handprint, consisting of five attack moves, a form of palm technique. Lastly, there's a sword technique named Myriad Sword Art."

"Really?" Ye Xiao was delighted, as this would be his first encounter with an Essence Art.

"Thousand Shadows has three levels. Your Essence Qi will surge, descending straight through the Divine Court, the Auxiliary Palace, and Shang Qiu, converging at the Spring of Yongquan..." The Qian Yuan Sword recited the incantations and demonstrated them to Ye Xiao. In an instant, Ye Xiao saw the Qian Yuan Sword vanish before his eyes, leaving only a trail of lingering images.

Moments later, the Qian Yuan Sword came to a halt, its lingering images merging into one.

"This is the result you can achieve after perfecting the first layer of Thousand Shadows. However, the second and third layers are beyond your reach for now, as your current Essence is insufficient to support them," the sword explained. "Even this first layer can only be maintained for a quarter of an hour with your level of cultivation. Therefore, use it sparingly and only in critical situations. When you do, you must act swiftly and decisively."

Ye Xiao watched the Qian Yuan Sword's demonstration with great satisfaction. With this technique, his speed could more than double. Although it was sustainable for only half an hour, it had the potential to increase his combat power manifold.

"In terms of the mystical handprints, at your Master level, you can only execute the first two: the Glacial Handprint and the Profound Gold Handprint. And they can only be used twice. To master these handprints, you'll need two heavenly and earthly treasures: the Heart of Black Ice and the Pure Gold Soul," the Qian Yuan Sword continued.

Ye Xiao, initially eager, was left speechless at the mention of heavenly and earthly treasures. He might not have known what the Heart of Black Ice and the Pure Gold Soul were, but he understood that anything classified as such was exorbitantly priced and highly contested.

Unlike other techniques that could be mastered through sheer diligence, and occasionally with the aid of special items, very few required heavenly and earthly treasures for cultivation.

"Enough already," Ye Xiao said, waving his hand in resignation, cutting off the sword's narrative. After all, he couldn't pursue the training at the moment.

"The final technique is a sword art, the Ten Thousand Swords Formula. Its power is formidable; mastering it could enable you to challenge opponents beyond your level," the Qian Yuan Sword stated gravely.

That single statement rekindled Ye Xiao's enthusiasm.

Challenging beyond one's level was not the same as challenging across different tiers within the same level. The former referred to a Yuan Master taking on opponents of a higher rank, even up to the level of a King Yuan.

The gap between the two levels was staggering, a surprise to everyone involved.

The Qian Yuan Sword continued, "The Ten Thousand Swords Formula was meant to be exclusive to me, but since I can't manifest my true form, you'll have to make do with a normal Fine Steel Long Sword, with my assistance."

"Now that two layers of seals have been released from the sword, you'll need to dedicate time to nurturing it with your vital energy. This will allow the Qian Yuan Sword to generate powerful sword qi. If you can one day cultivate hundreds or even thousands of Sword Lights, you could easily defeat a King Yuan, even as a Master-level cultivator."

The thought of hundreds and thousands of Sword Lights made Ye Xiao's heart flutter with excitement.

"How long will it take me to cultivate that many Sword Lights?" Ye Xiao asked, full of anticipation.

The Qian Yuan Sword burst into laughter. "With your current strength, you're dreaming of thousands of Sword Lights? At most, you could nurture a couple hundred before your body gives out. Push too far, and the Sword Lights will destroy you before you harm an enemy!"

Disappointed, Ye Xiao pondered the possibility of activating a hundred Sword Lights. It wasn't too shabby, and while he was unsure of their power, he sensed they would be formidable.

"However, once unleashed, it will drain all your vital energy. After that, you'll be powerless, vulnerable to any foe," the Qian Yuan Sword solemnly added.

Ye Xiao grimaced, feeling somewhat frustrated. With three types of Natal Arts to choose from—one currently beyond his reach and the other two a matter of life and death—it seemed he'd have to rely on himself to master a Yuan Art he could use immediately.