Chapter 51: Great Sun Sword Qi Technique

Back in his quarters, Lin Tianming sat cross-legged on a mat in his meditation chamber, holding a golden jade slip—the technique he had spent over a thousand spirit stones on at the auction.

He scrutinized the technique carefully, delving into its intricacies and falling into deep contemplation. According to the method inscribed, one had to extract a small portion of spiritual power from the dantian to cultivate a sword qi, which would be nurtured within the dantian. The longer the nurturing period, the greater the sword qi's power upon activation. It was indeed a secret technique.

However, this technique was incomplete, with only half available, and its grade remained unclear. The jade slip detailed the method to cultivate the Great Sun Sword Qi but lacked the mental techniques to utilize it. Without the second half, it was practically useless—a significant drawback.

No wonder only a few cultivators were willing to bid for it at the auction. If it had been a complete technique, it would never have been put up for sale. Lin Tianming decided to first cultivate the sword embryo and store it in his dantian for future use. If he ever found the second half, it would become an invaluable asset, potentially the first secret technique the Lin family had ever obtained, greatly enhancing their strength and legacy.

Having understood the method, Lin Tianming began the arduous process of cultivating the sword qi.

Following the instructions, he meticulously separated a portion of spiritual power from his dantian. This process was dangerous and painful—misjudging the timing or amount could damage his foundation, making it exceptionally challenging.

Utilizing his spiritual vision, Lin Tianming painstakingly attempted to extract about half a portion of his total spiritual power. Three days of unsuccessful attempts left him weary, each failure bringing excruciating pain worse than the body tempering techniques he practiced.

Exhausted and drenched in sweat, Lin Tianming considered giving up when he finally succeeded in separating a small portion of spiritual power. Overjoyed, he meticulously controlled his spiritual consciousness to ensure he extracted the exact amount required.

Thanks to his spiritual vision, the process was precise, completing the first and most challenging step. The remaining task was to cultivate the spiritual power into a sword qi, nurturing it within his dantian daily until it was ready.

Two days passed swiftly. Lin Tianming's complexion turned pale and his energy waned, resembling someone recovering from a severe illness. This was the toll of practicing the secret technique.

With his spiritual power halved, his strength was significantly reduced, nullifying months of arduous cultivation. Lin Tianming resumed his regular training to heal and recover.

Eight days later, three days after successfully cultivating the sword qi, a small golden sword now stood quietly in his dantian, surrounded by spiritual energy. The past three days were spent healing his injuries and restoring his strength, bringing him back to nearly full capacity.

A message talisman flew into his chamber. Upon reading it, Lin Tianming smiled—it was from his grandfather, Lin Shilu, who had returned.

With a joyful expression, Lin Tianming prepared to greet him.

Lin Shilu had spent over forty days traveling back from Qianchuan Market, barely resting and only staying two days at the family home to recover. His journey had been taxing, and he returned in a weary state, eager to see Lin Tianming.

Opening the barrier, Lin Shilu entered the courtyard where Lin Tianming awaited.

"Fifteenth Grandfather, you're back! How was the journey?" Lin Tianming inquired anxiously.

Seeing Lin Tianming's pale complexion, Lin Shilu's face turned angry. "Why do you look so pale? Are you injured?"

Lin Tianming recounted the events of the auction and the secret technique, including his success in cultivating the sword qi.

Shocked, Lin Shilu admonished, "You dare practice an unverified secret technique? What if something had gone wrong? You could have died!"

"Remember, don't act recklessly in the future. Keep this secret technique to yourself for now. We'll search for the second half discreetly. If we find it, it will be a great boon for our family; if not, let this be a costly lesson."

They sat in the courtyard as Lin Shilu recounted his forty-day journey.

"I followed the same route we took to the market, traveling non-stop. Thanks to the Purple Gold Eagle, I made good time. After delivering the pills to the family, we decided on their distribution. Your grandfather and two uncles, all at the peak of Qi Refining, were chosen for their significant contributions over the years. Each needed 8,000 merit points to redeem a pill."

"Do you think they will succeed?" Lin Tianming asked, concerned.

"Success in cultivation is never guaranteed. Your youngest uncle is over eighty, with a thirty percent chance of success. Your grandfather and the other uncle have slightly lower odds, around twenty percent. Still, it's better than trying without any aid. If they fail, there's little risk, but without some fortuitous event, their progress would likely halt here."

"Let's hope for the best," Lin Shilu continued, setting the matter aside to discuss Ye Pinghai's alchemy progress.

Lin Tianming shared his activities of the past half-month, including training and attending the auction, all while assisting Ye Pinghai with alchemy, leading a fulfilling and busy life.

Ye Pinghai's initial attempts at refining the pills had a thirty percent success rate, likely to improve with practice. The exact results would be known once all materials were used.

After half an hour of discussion, they decided to remain at Qianchuan Market, focusing on cultivation and awaiting the completion of the pill refinement before returning to the family. With clear instructions to Lin Tianming to remain diligent, they both returned to their chambers to continue their training.