C12 Thousandintent Sword Arts

After ensuring that Ye Yuvdao's injuries were minor, Ye Han retreated to his old room, which was as spotless as ever thanks to regular upkeep. He shut the door, settled into a cross-legged position on the bed, and began his cultivation practice.

"Tonight, Zhang Batian's brazenness stems from his Spirit Martial Stage Level Six strength. Insignificant to me, yet it poses considerable trouble for the Ye family," Ye Han mused, his expression growing stern.

On the Cold Martial Continent, martial prowess is paramount.

"If I were a Celestial Martial Stage Expert today, Zhang Batian wouldn't dare make a peep. My strength is still lacking; I must enhance it without delay."

With that thought, Ye Han ceased his contemplation and concentrated on his breathing technique, which required minimal effort. Eyes closed, he could have easily been mistaken for someone deep in slumber.

Come morning, Ye Han's eyes fluttered open, revealing a youthful face brightened by a triumphant smile. "At last, my Qi Sea is full. Time to break through to the second level of the Pulse Opening Stage!" He retrieved a jade bottle from within his garments, took out a Vein Rushing Pill, and placed it in his mouth.

"Condense!"

In the ensuing silence, Ye Han closed his eyes once more and began practicing the Ancient Monarch Dao Scripture, channeling the medicinal power of the Vein Rushing Pill toward his second meridian.

Opening meridians is a precise and perilous endeavor; a misstep in controlling one's Spiritual Force could result in irreparable damage, rendering one's meridians useless.

However, for Ye Han, who had been a demi-Emperor in his past life, such challenges were trivial.

Hours passed, and Ye Han was soaked with sweat, teeth gritted as he bore the excruciating pain.

With a resounding "Boom!" emanating from his Dantian, his Qi Sea suddenly expanded tenfold, now the size of a human head.

"Now, I've merely begun the second level of the Pulse Opening Stage. There's not much increase in my Spiritual Energy yet. But there's potential for growth. Once I fully cultivate the Spiritual Energy in my Qi Sea, it will increase tenfold," Ye Han reflected, his heart swelling with elation.

With each advancement in realm, the capacity of the Qi Sea expands, allowing it to contain more Spiritual Energy.

If one is unable to break through to a higher realm, then even a decade of cultivation won't increase the Spiritual Energy within the body. This is because the Qi Sea has a fixed capacity and can only accommodate a certain amount of Spiritual Energy.

Upon reaching Level Two of the Pulse Opening Stage, impurities were expelled from his body through his pores, resembling a layer of black mud and giving off a faint, fishy odor.

Ye Han ceased his cultivation and fetched hot water to cleanse his body of the impurities. After donning fresh clothes, he smiled contentedly.

"In just two days, I've managed to break through and enter Level Two of the Pulse Opening Stage!" Ye Han sensed the Spiritual Force within him, his face lighting up with joy.

But the smile soon faded, and his brow furrowed in a look of concern.

To have progressed from a mortal to Level Two of the Pulse Opening Stage in just two days was incredibly astounding.

Yet, this pace might not be sufficient to reach Level Five of the Pulse Opening Stage before the sect's examination. Failing to do so could lead to his parents' disappointment.

"If I had enough Spirit Materials and pills, I could double my cultivation speed. But the Spirit Herbs I need are expensive, and even the Ye Family cannot afford them."

Ye Han clenched his teeth in frustration. Setting aside the Vein Rushing Pill, even the least expensive Spirit Materials cost several hundred taels of silver—a significant amount for the modest Ye Family.

Moreover, his practice of the Ancient Monarch Dao Scripture demanded even more resources as he reached higher levels of cultivation.

To fully harness the power of the Barbarian Dragon Fist, a formidable level of cultivation was also necessary.

The scarcity of cultivation resources left Ye Han feeling a profound sense of helplessness.

Then, an epiphany struck. As he grappled with his troubles, a spark of insight flashed through his mind.

He burst into laughter, as if seized by madness, and began to talk to himself, mocking his own foolishness. He had a veritable gold mine at his disposal, yet here he was, agonizing over a few hundred taels of silver.

In his past life, Ye Han had been a half-step Emperor with vast experience, and his mind was a treasure trove of various cultivation methods and martial techniques.

Although Ye Han had been reborn and his cultivation had vanished, his memories remained intact. Among these memories were numerous cultivation techniques and martial arts, any one of which could cause a sensation in Auspicious Cloud City.

Yet, Ye Han was cautious not to reveal the higher-grade techniques, such as the Ancient Monarch Dao Scripture he was currently practicing. Instead, he sought out pen and ink to transcribe a sword technique known as the Thousand-intent Sword Arts.

The Thousand-intent Sword Arts, classified as Spirit Level Low Grade, was the most basic martial skill in Ye Han's recollection. Its ingenuity was the only reason he had bothered to commit it to memory, otherwise, he would have dismissed it long ago.

Auspicious Cloud City, nestled in the southeastern part of the Great Xia Divine Dynasty, was a remote and modest town with scarce cultivation resources. Most martial artists there practiced only Human Grade martial skills, while the prestigious families guarded their Spirit Rank martial arts, considering them treasured heirlooms and never sharing them with outsiders. Possessing such a Spirit Rank martial skill could easily disrupt the power equilibrium among these influential families.

After much deliberation, Ye Han finally began to inscribe the Heart Arts of the Thousand-intent Sword Arts on paper. Once the Heart Arts were complete, he channeled his Spiritual Energy to meticulously illustrate each movement of the sword technique.

The task was challenging. Ye Han's reserves of Spiritual Force were limited, and capturing the finesse and essence of the sword technique required a delicate touch, akin to wielding an actual sword. The process was incredibly draining on his Spiritual Energy.

Despite his vast knowledge, Ye Han's sparse Spiritual Energy meant that each depiction of a sword move depleted his reserves, making for painstakingly slow progress. He frequently had to pause and practice the Ancient Monarch Dao Scripture to replenish his Spiritual Energy before he could resume his drawings.

After dedicating an entire day to his task, Ye Han had finally completed the thirteen sword techniques of the Thousand-intent Sword Arts. He was utterly spent, his clothing soaked with sweat, and he collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

Though his cultivation had waned, his keen eyesight and deep understanding of martial arts remained intact. Each sword technique he rendered was masterfully intricate, indistinguishable from those depicted on the original pages of the Thousand-intent Sword Arts.

"With my current capabilities, I can only manage to draw martial skills of the Spirit Level Low Grade. Attempting to depict more advanced martial skills would likely provoke a backlash from the sword intent, resulting in severe injuries," he mused.

Martial skills and cultivation techniques were far more than mere drawings and text.

To perfectly replicate a set of martial arts, one needed not only an immense amount of Spiritual Energy but also an understanding of the martial arts' essence.

Without this, a copied martial skill would be nothing but an empty shell, useless for others to learn from.

Ye Han didn't rush to depart. He found a large black robe and donned it before heading out.

Upon leaving Ridge South Town, Ye Han wrapped himself in the black robe and sped along the ancient road under the moonlight, heading straight for Auspicious Cloud City.

A couple of hours later, he entered the brightly lit Auspicious Cloud City. Despite the late hour, the city was alive with activity. Many martial artists roamed the streets, and among the numerous figures in black robes, Ye Han went unnoticed.

Navigating through the streets, he relied on his hazy memory to find his way to Martial City.

In Auspicious Cloud City, the other markets paled in comparison to Martial City, serving merely as trading hubs for the common folk.

Martial City, the economic heart of Auspicious Cloud City, saw an immense daily turnover of silver.

It was divided into three distinct sections: the Pill Pharmacy, the Weapon Market, and the Central Auction House.

To say that Martial City was pivotal to the fortunes of the Great Xia Dynasty would be no overstatement. Its financial throughput dwarfed that of any ordinary market. Consequently, the Great Xia Dynasty enforced stringent regulations over Martial City.

Soldiers scrutinized every individual at each entrance, permitting only martial artists to pass through.

Entering Martial City, Ye Han made his way directly to the center, where the Morton Auction House was situated. This was the largest auction venue in Auspicious Cloud City, frequented by the city's most formidable figures.

"Hello, how may I assist you today?"

Upon entering the Morton Auction House, Ye Han was greeted by a provocatively dressed maid who seemed unfazed by his attire.

"I possess a set of martial arts techniques I wish to auction off here. I'd like to speak with your auction house's Great Deacon."

Ye Han disguised his voice, emitting a hoarse and piercing tone from beneath his black robe, reminiscent of an elderly man.

The maid, realizing the nature of the item for auction, immediately adopted a more respectful demeanor.

"If it pleases you, Senior, kindly wait in our VIP lounge while I notify the Great Deacon," she said, before swiftly opening a door and rushing off to deliver the message.

Ye Han, in no rush, leisurely entered the VIP lounge and settled in to wait.

Soon after, the door creaked open and the maid reappeared, accompanied by an old man in an opulent, dark robe adorned with a golden maple leaf. She whispered something to him, casting a discreet glance at Ye Han.

"You may leave us," the old man said, dismissing the maid. He then approached Ye Han, his face creasing into a practiced smile. "I am Mo Zhu, the Great Deacon of Morton Auction House. Are you certain you wish to auction martial arts techniques?"

Ye Han grunted in response and inquired, "Li Yun, is that man still among the living?"

Mo Zhu was visibly shaken, his aged eyes flickering with uncertainty. The Li Family Patriarch was the linchpin of the Delai clan, a figure whose profound cultivation had kept him from public view for nearly two centuries. Anyone who could recite Elder Li Yun's full name was no ordinary individual.

With renewed deference, Mo Zhu replied, "Patriarch Li Yun is indeed in robust health! May I inquire as to your identity?"

Speaking with the authority of one accustomed to command, Ye Han stated, "There's no need for you to know my name. I have here a set of Low Grade Martial Skill that I wish to sell through the Morton Auction House."

Ye Han had encountered Li Yun, a core figure of the Morton Auction House, in his previous life. However, their relationship at the time could hardly be described as friendly.

Mentioning Li Yun was a deliberate move by Ye Han to deter the Morton Auction House. He was about to auction off a sword technique classified as Spirit Level Low Grade, and it was inevitable that such a valuable item would attract envious eyes.

Given his current Martial Dao Cultivation Level, Ye Han was incapable of safeguarding the sword technique. Yet, if others believed he was associated with a powerful figure, the number of people bold enough to target him would likely dwindle.

In light of his insufficient strength, feigning a formidable presence to intimidate potential threats was not only necessary but a strategic move on his part.