Chapter 146: Blazing Sun Sword Technique

The news of Bai Qingzhou’s successful breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm and his return quickly spread throughout the entire sect.

Many fellow disciples came to offer their congratulations. For the next two days, Bai Qingzhou stayed within his small courtyard, taking turns conversing and exchanging pleasantries with each visitor, making his time there quite fulfilling.

However, because the opportunity for Foundation Establishment was mystical, elusive, and impossible to articulate, and the grueling days of ascetic cultivation were monotonous and unchanging year after year, there was actually not much to share. Within a few days, his courtyard returned to its usual tranquility.

......

The vibrant spring dyed every cell green, and a bird quietly built its nest on a lively branch. The spring sunlight was exceptionally bright, and the warm, reddish rays beamed down, bringing an extraordinary sense of comfort.

Seeing such pleasant weather, Bai Qingzhou fetched a reclining chair and lay straight inside the pavilion. Beside him sat a cup of spiritual tea and a few spiritual fruits. As he closed his eyes to rest his mind, an indescribable sense of beauty lingered in his heart.

His entire body was filled with a faint, peaceful serenity.

"It feels like it has been ages since I last relaxed so completely..." he thought to himself.

A gentle breeze blew by, making him feel drowsy.

The reason Bai Qingzhou could be so leisurely was simply because sitting in meditation could no longer generate any spiritual energy for him!

Ever since he advanced to the first layer of Foundation Establishment, circulating his cultivation technique could no longer draw spiritual energy into his body. His entire body seemed to have begun rejecting the technique, remaining completely unresponsive even when he forced it to circulate.

Bai Qingzhou had experienced this situation before, as it had happened when he advanced from the third to the fourth layer of Qi Condensation. The solution to this problem was also very simple.

That was, to change his cultivation technique.

Bai Qingzhou had always practiced the *Ask-Heart Sword Technique*, and this manual explicitly stated that it could only be cultivated up to the ninth layer of Qi Condensation.

Therefore, when Zhang Ziyan and Ji Heng came to visit a couple of days ago, he had carefully inquired whether the sect possessed any Foundation Establishment techniques, receiving affirmative answers from both of them.

Currently, the sect possessed one set of Foundation Establishment techniques named the *Blazing Sun Sword Technique*.

This technique was the very same Foundation Establishment method that Li Yuyun had practiced back in the day.

It was said that wanting to practice this technique was no easy feat. Both Zhang Ziyan and Ji Heng had tried to cultivate it, but they were utterly unable to establish a connection with the *Blazing Sun Sword Technique*, rendering them unable to practice it. Later on, the two of them had to go to the mortal market and spend spiritual stones to purchase other techniques so they could continue their cultivation.

"I'll go and try out the *Blazing Sun Sword Technique* at noon. If it doesn't work out, I'll just have to wait for the auction..." Bai Qingzhou thought to himself.

Trying out the technique was his only option for now, because if he could resonate with it, he would save a vast amount of spiritual stones.

After all, Foundation Establishment techniques were generally of the Profound-tier Low Grade, and some exceptional ones could even reach the Profound-tier Mid Grade or Profound-tier High Grade. Secret manuals of this caliber were extremely expensive and usually only appeared at auctions.

When the sun hung high in the sky, Bai Qingzhou awoke from his nap and drained the now-chilly spiritual tea in a single gulp.

He leapt up instantly, flying from his small courtyard toward the back mountain.

Soon, Bai Qingzhou spotted a familiar pool of water. He had once come here with several fellow disciples to barbecue and play in the water. Years had passed, and the scenery here remained as picturesque as ever.

He smiled knowingly. Without halting his momentum, he flew past the pool, and in less than two breaths, he arrived at the secluded courtyard deep in the mountains where Han Aoyu resided.

From Zhang Ziyan, he had learned that the *Blazing Sun Sword Technique* was currently kept in the custody of Han Aoyu.

Landing gently at the entrance, Bai Qingzhou immediately called out in a resonant voice, "Elder Han! Bai Qingzhou requests an audience!"

His voice rippled like waves into the courtyard.

"Woof! Woof!"

The sound instantly startled the large yellow hound that had been fast asleep.

Da Huang bounded out happily, running in circles around Bai Qingzhou's feet with extreme excitement.

This hound was exceptionally intelligent and still clearly remembered Bai Qingzhou, whom it hadn't seen in years.

Bai Qingzhou reached out and patted its head.

"Come in!" Han Aoyu's voice suddenly drifted out from the courtyard.

Hearing this, Bai Qingzhou pushed open the wicker gate and stepped inside.

The courtyard was extremely simple. A large wooden barrel stood in the corner, alongside a few daily necessities. Han Aoyu was sitting on a stone chair in the center of the courtyard, looking at Bai Qingzhou with a smile.

"Greetings, Elder Han!" Bai Qingzhou stepped forward and cupped his fists in salute.

"No need for such formality." Han Aoyu waved her hand, paused for a moment, and smiled, "You are already a Foundation Establishment cultivator now; you should also prepare to become an elder."

Bai Qingzhou scratched his head and gave an honest, foolish grin.

Within the Xuanyang Sect, anyone who advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage could become a sect elder—this was a rule established by the former sect master long ago, so Bai Qingzhou was not surprised.

After a few conventional pleasantries, Bai Qingzhou spoke up, "Elder Han! I have come this time to request the *Blazing Sun Sword Technique*!"

"Mm, I have already prepared it." Han Aoyu picked up a scroll-like cylinder from the stone table and handed it to Bai Qingzhou.

Bai Qingzhou received it with both hands, looking somewhat astonished as he asked, "This... why is the cultivation technique in this form?"

In his impression, all secret manuals were shaped like books, but the object before him was merely a cyan cylinder without any carved characters on its surface, leaving him utterly puzzled.

"This is the *Blazing Sun Sword Technique*. It is only natural that you have never seen such a secret manual before. Secret manuals above the Profound-tier are all in this format. They can only be viewed by using the pure spiritual energy of a Foundation Establishment cultivator's Dantian to activate them," Han Aoyu explained.

"Pure spiritual energy? Doesn't that mean those in the Qi Condensation stage cannot practice it?"

"That's right. Without Foundation Establishment cultivation, one cannot open the manual, and naturally cannot practice it." Han Aoyu paused briefly before continuing, "Moreover, secret manuals of the Profound-tier and above are single-use items. Once used, they disappear and are destroyed. They are extremely precious. This is also why our sect only possesses a single Foundation Establishment technique."

"Then..." Bai Qingzhou appeared somewhat bewildered as he asked, "How can I know if this technique is suitable for me? If it turns out to be unsuitable and I end up using it anyway, wouldn't this manual be wasted?"

One had to know that a Profound-tier technique in the market cost at least upwards of four hundred spiritual stones at the absolute minimum! If it were wasted due to a mistake, it would mean losing a massive fortune in spiritual stones.

"It's fine..." Han Aoyu explained further, "After a simple touch with spiritual energy, a brief introduction of the technique will emerge. You can give it a try. Activate the spiritual energy in your Dantian and let it enter the scroll; you will obtain some basic information. If it is suitable, you will feel a resonance in your heart."

"I see..." Bai Qingzhou looked down at the scroll in his palm, muttering to himself.

"Give it a try. Ji Heng and Zhang Ziyan also tried it before realizing it wasn't suitable for them; it won't affect anything," Han Aoyu said calmly.

"Alright!"

With Han Aoyu's explanation, Bai Qingzhou felt somewhat relieved. He immediately mobilized the pure spiritual energy within his Dantian, letting it slowly drift out of his body and gradually flow into the cyan scroll.

"Boom!"

The moment it made contact, he felt as if a loud explosion rang out right beside his ear, followed by a massive surge of information flooding directly into his mind.

The sudden influx of information made him frown tightly, his head throbbing with pressure.

However, the sensation did not last long. After just a moment, the throbbing feeling vanished without a trace, and Bai Qingzhou finally began to observe the information.

There were hundreds of words of information, which he quickly scanned over.

It was an introduction to the *Blazing Sun Sword Technique*...

Bai Qingzhou nodded inwardly and then began to read carefully, word by word.

A moment later.

Just as he finished reading, a faint tremor suddenly arose in his heart, and the spiritual energy throughout his entire body quivered in response.

"Huh?" Bai Qingzhou immediately noticed and was greatly startled, "This feeling... it's actually the same as the opportunity for Foundation Establishment!"

He abruptly opened his eyes!

He saw Han Aoyu smiling before him as she slowly said, "Congratulations, Qingzhou, the *Blazing Sun Sword Technique* is just right for you."