Chapter 172-"Secret Technique"

When He Song initially chose the introductory path of formation techniques, Song Zhen had specifically reminded him that if he couldn't learn it, he could return to exchange it for free.

Unfortunately, when He Song returned this time, Song Zhen was no longer to be found in the library pavilion.

Gazing at the familiar library pavilion, He Song sighed deeply, suddenly feeling dispirited.

Even the library pavilion seemed dimmer than before.

After a moment of silence, He Song finally spoke again.

"Junior Brother Yang, please accept my condolences. I came looking for Senior Brother Song Zhen, but it's not urgent. I just remembered that Senior Brother Song Zhen once mentioned that if one couldn't master the introductory path of formation techniques, they could come here to exchange it for another cultivation art for free."

"Would Junior Brother Yang be able to help me exchange it for the introductory path of talisman techniques?"

As he spoke, He Song took out his previous records of studying the introductory path of formation techniques and other spells from the library pavilion and handed them to Yang Yan.

After looking them over, Yang Yan said nothing, only nodding at He Song.

Then, he turned and left to find the introductory path of talisman techniques for He Song.

Seeing that Yang Yan seemed unenthusiastic, He Song thought for a moment and began wandering around the library pavilion.

The library pavilion contained an immense number of books.

Most were recorded on jade slips, with paper introductions beside them.

As He Song flipped through these introductions, his gaze swept over one jade slip after another.

All of these required contribution points to study.

Each jade slip cost about two to five contribution points.

The spells recorded on these jade slips were only for the Qi Condensation stage. If they were spells for the Foundation Establishment stage, the price would undoubtedly be higher.

However, as He Song wandered through the library pavilion, his gaze swept over the jade slips.

When he reached one particular jade slip and saw the five large characters on the paper introduction, those words immediately caught his attention.

"Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art!"

"Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art?"

"I should have thought of it earlier. There's the Mountain-Linking Wind Riding Technique and the Mountain-Suppressing Sword Art—why wouldn't there be a Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art?"

"Perhaps after reaching Foundation Establishment, there might even be a Foundation Establishment version of the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art?"

Looking at the sudden appearance of the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art, He Song's face showed a flash of astonishment, but he quickly accepted it.

Still, acceptance aside, as He Song gazed at the jade slip containing the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art, his eyes gradually filled with fervor.

Ordinary Earth Traveling Techniques allowed one to dive ten meters underground. Combined with the Breath Concealment Technique, it greatly increased one's ability to leave the sect undetected.

But what about the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art?

This was a secret technique!

And not just any secret technique—it was a core earth-based secret technique of the Earth Sect!

If he learned it, how much would his ability to leave the sect covertly increase when using the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art?

Thinking of this, He Song quickly took the jade slip and held it in his hand.

At the same time, his gaze scanned the surrounding jade slips, searching for any other secret techniques like the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art.

Such secret techniques were extremely important to He Song.

However, after searching for a while, He Song didn't find any other secret techniques and reluctantly returned to his original spot to wait for Yang Yan's return.

He didn't have to wait long.

Shortly after He Song returned to his spot, Yang Yan quickly brought back the jade slip for the introductory path of talisman techniques.

The jade slip for the introductory path of talisman techniques didn't cost He Song any contribution points—it was a free exchange.

But the jade slip for the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art cost He Song three contribution points to purchase.

Four hundred and fifty spirit stones.

A bit expensive.

But worth it!

Taking the two jade slips, He Song quickly entered a quiet room beside the library pavilion and began absorbing the various techniques recorded within them.

The first was naturally the introductory path of talisman techniques.

Pressing the jade slip to his forehead, He Song's mind was instantly imprinted with information about the introductory path of talisman techniques.

After absorbing the knowledge of the introductory path of talisman techniques, He Song picked up the jade slip containing the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art and pressed it to his forehead.

Instantly, all sorts of cultivation methods, small tricks, and details about the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art flooded into He Song's mind.

He could recall everything about the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art effortlessly—it was unforgettable.

After finishing this, He Song left the quiet room and returned the jade slips.

Then, he went alone to the outer perimeter of the Earth Sect and used the Earth Traveling Technique to head toward his newly established cave residence.

Now that he had his own cave residence, He Song naturally wouldn't continue staying in the sect's main gate area.

Although his cave residence wasn't as secure as the Earth Sect, which had a Golden Core True Lord overseeing it, the Mist Veil Formation covering it made his new cave residence safer than most ordinary immortal markets or even some sects.

In the future, if He Song learned an offensive or defensive formation, he could place it in his cave residence.

At that point, the safety of his cave residence would greatly increase.

Several hours later, He Song returned to his newly established cave residence.

Since the area around the cave residence hadn't yet been transformed into farmland and was still barren, He Song quickly began transforming the land around his cave residence.

Areas suitable for farming were converted into fields, waiting for the Minor Spirit Gathering Formation to gather spiritual energy and transform them into spirit fields.

Areas unsuitable for farming were turned into medicinal gardens, ready to be planted with spirit seeds once sufficient spiritual energy accumulated.

The spirit seeds he had purchased from the Colorful Cloud Immortal Market were still quietly resting in his storage pouch.

After finishing this, He Song diverted water from a nearby river, allowing it to flow within the range of the Mist Veil Formation.

After arranging everything around his cave residence to his satisfaction, He Song stood at the entrance.

Looking around, a hint of satisfaction appeared on his face.

His cave residence was located on the mountainside of a small hill.

From the entrance, one could see the most magnificent scenery of the area.

Rows of fields sat at the foot of the mountain, bordering the river.

Patches of untouched green grass formed medicinal gardens scattered across the mountain, shining like carefully placed emeralds.

The location was nestled against the mountain and beside the water, with beautiful scenery and plenty of wild animals, avoiding excessive tranquility. Occasionally, fish leaping from the nearby river added vitality to the surroundings.

Looking at this scene, He Song took a deep breath, feeling much more relaxed.

"This place is perfect. In the future, if I need to enter closed-door cultivation, I can do so here."

"If I need to do anything else, I can leave the cave residence and go to the Earth Sect or other places."

"This way, I won't have to worry about secrets being discovered—it's much better than staying in the Earth Sect."

"It's just slightly inconvenient to travel back and forth, but I can endure it."

After glancing at the area covered by the Mist Veil Formation one more time, He Song turned and entered the cave residence.

The door of the cave residence quietly closed behind him.

From within the Mist Veil Formation, He Song's cave residence seemed to vanish without a trace.

And if someone looked at the small hill where He Song resided from outside the Mist Veil Formation, they would see no difference between this hill and its surroundings.

The spirit fields and medicinal gardens He Song had created were all hidden within the illusion of the Mist Veil Formation, making it difficult to discern their true nature.

Moreover, this place was already remote. Normally, not even ordinary people, let alone cultivators, came here.

Under these circumstances, it would be quite difficult for anyone to discover He Song's cave residence.

It wasn't an open immortal market or immortal city.

No one would intentionally search for this place.

Naturally, as long as He Song avoided the sight and divine sense of other cultivators, the safety of his cave residence was guaranteed.

Once he learned to set up defensive and offensive formations in the future, the safety of this place would increase even further.

Inside the cave residence, He Song entered the quiet room.

Sitting cross-legged, his mind was flooded with information about the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art.

"The Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art is much faster than ordinary Earth Traveling Techniques and allows one to travel deeper underground."

"One can even launch attacks from underground. Unprepared cultivators could easily be ambushed and killed."

"However, the Mountain-Shaking Art remains a significant threat to the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art."

"Even within the Earth Sect's territory, few outer disciples are willing to study the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art."

"This is a technique with great advantages but also glaring weaknesses."

Reflecting on the description of the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art, He Song agreed with this assessment.

There was no helping it.

The Mountain-Shaking Art completely countered Earth Traveling Techniques.

If you encountered a cultivator who hadn't studied the Mountain-Shaking Art, it wouldn't be a problem. But if you encountered one who had...

By the time you activated your Earth Traveling Technique, their Mountain-Shaking Art could force you out of the ground or even crush you underground.

Such an obvious flaw couldn't be entirely avoided, even by the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art.

The Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art simply allowed one to travel deeper and more covertly underground and launch surprise attacks.

But if you encountered a cultivator of the same level using the Mountain-Shaking Art...

The impact range of the Mountain-Shaking Art was enormous.

The Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art would still be heavily affected.

Thus, for sect disciples who had many other techniques to learn, studying such a flawed Earth Traveling Technique was clearly not worth it.

The Earth Sect had countless techniques.

They could study whatever they wanted—sword arts, wind riding techniques, or other spells—most of which didn't have such glaring flaws.

There was no need to focus solely on the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art, which had such a significant weakness.

Only He Song, out of caution, was so insistent on mastering the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art.

"Now that the cave residence is complete, I just need to steadily increase my cultivation and practice the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art and the Dantian Settling Technique."

"Hopefully, by the time I emerge from my next closed-door cultivation, I'll have reached the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation."

With the cultivation methods of the Mountain-Linking Earth Traveling Art in mind, He Song began practicing according to the methods while thinking these thoughts.

(End of Chapter)