Chapter 12

One hundred spirit stones.

Huang Lao Liu's spirit stones were also saved up one by one; this favor was indeed significant.

Han Muye put away the spirit stones and chuckled, "Brother Liu, are you not afraid I won't live for three months and can't even pay back the cost of these spirit stones?"

Even if he saved all his monthly salary and extra income for three months, it probably wouldn't match the additional seventy spirit stones.

If Han Muye were to die within three months, Huang Lao Liu's investment would definitely be a total loss.

"Over the past seven years, there have been dozens of Sword Observers, but you are the one who suits my temperament the most."

"Don't die too soon."

Huang Lao Liu's voice was still old, but it carried a hint of unusual emotion.

Han Muye nodded.

Sword Observers in the Nine Mystic Sword Sect were a special existence, mostly with short lifespans, and outsiders rarely interacted with them much.

Huang Lao Liu rarely met someone like Han Muye who he could chat with, and he truly didn't want him to die.

"Don't worry, we won't die." Han Muye turned to look at the swords on the wooden racks and spoke softly.

The swords gently resonated, as if in response.

...

The Inner Sect Spell Practice Hall was located on the peak of Nine Mystic Mountain, even farther from the Sword Pavilion.

The next day, Han Muye set out at noon and didn't arrive until the afternoon.

On the way to the Spell Practice Hall, Han Muye encountered several fellow Outer Sect disciples. They had recently completed a sect mission and earned some merit points. This time, they came to the Spell Practice Hall to exchange for cultivation techniques.

Despite their young age, each of them had a cultivation level of the seventh or eighth stage of the Human Realm, and with another one or two years of cultivation, they would reach the Qi Condensation stage.

At the Qi Condensation stage, they would absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, using it to refine their body and meridians, thus gaining powers beyond those of ordinary people.

Although the Qi Condensation stage couldn't yet allow them to fly through the air, they could control their swords with qi, move as swiftly as birds, and leave no trace on snow, among other extraordinary abilities, which were highly enviable.

These were all told to Han Muye by a young girl named Qiao Qing'er among the Outer Sect disciples.

"Senior Brother Han, that's the Spell Practice Hall." A girl in a green robe, about sixteen or seventeen years old, pointed ahead and said joyfully.

She was Qiao Qing'er.

From a distance, the five-story pavilion occupied a vast area, with a much more imposing presence than the Sword Pavilion.

"Senior Brother Han, we're going to see our master. Do you want to come along?" Qiao Qing'er smiled at Han Muye.

On the way, Han Muye had already learned that Qiao Qing'er and her companions were favored by the Inner Sect officials and were taken as named disciples. Once they reached the Qi Condensation stage, they would be directly admitted as disciples.

Unlike ordinary Outer Sect disciples who struggled bitterly, they started from a much stronger position.

This was because their cultivation aptitude was all sixth or seventh grade.

A cultivation aptitude of fifth grade or above in the Nine Mystic Sword Sect could directly enter the elite ranks, where they would be personally taught by the sect elders and carefully cultivated.

A sixth or seventh-grade aptitude was already top-notch among ordinary disciples.

Qiao Qing'er and her companions didn't have to worry about their cultivation; they just needed to follow the routine cultivation process.

This time, they were able to receive mission rewards as Outer Sect disciples because their masters had arranged it, and their senior brothers had helped them complete the tasks.

"Junior Sister, our master only wants to see us. If outsiders come, he will be unhappy." A thin, middle-aged man in a green robe suddenly spoke up.

"You go ahead, I'll look for a suitable cultivation technique." Han Muye smiled and bowed, then turned to head towards the Spell Practice Hall.

Seeing Han Muye walk away, the thin, middle-aged man in the green robe snorted coldly and looked at Qiao Qing'er, saying, "Why bother with a Sword Observer? I don't think he'll live for more than half a year."

Hearing this, Qiao Qing'er turned around and smiled lightly, "Huo Ping, let's make a bet to see if he can live for more than half a year."

"I'll bet one hundred spirit stones that he can live for more than half a year."

Hearing her words, the young man named Huo Ping said without hesitation, "Fine, I'll bet he won't live for more than half a year."

Qiao Qing'er laughed and walked to the side.

A young man with a long sword on his back followed and then turned to look at Huo Ping, saying, "You should think about what will happen if Senior Brother Han really lives for more than half a year. You might have to receive your sword from him."

Their aptitude was top-notch among their peers. After a bit more cultivation, they would easily surpass a hundred Outer Sect disciples and eventually enter the Inner Sect.

If Han Muye could live for more than half a year, they might indeed have to receive their swords from him.

It was said that the Sword Pavilion had many rules, and some people had been delayed for three months in receiving their swords because they offended a Sword Observer.

In three months, others would have already formed a good rapport with their swords and significantly improved their combat strength.

A slow start could mean a slow progress all the way through.

Huo Ping was taken aback, looked in the direction Han Muye had left, and a glint of determination flashed in his eyes.

"Half a year, let's see if you can live for half a year."

...

Around the Spell Practice Hall, the green stone square was scattered with many Inner Sect disciples in white robes, some chatting quietly, others conversing.

Unlike the Outer Sect's Transmission Hall, where a coach taught dozens or even hundreds of disciples, the Spell Practice Hall was where Inner Sect elites and officials taught cultivation techniques and sword arts.

It was said that elders would occasionally visit the Spell Practice Hall, and if they favored someone, they could directly take them as a disciple.

That would be a stroke of luck, a leap to the top.

Han Muye walked into the Spell Practice Hall, slightly disappointed.

He had thought the Spell Practice Hall would be like the Outer Sect's Transmission Hall, with many disciples practicing, allowing him to learn a bit for free.

Unexpectedly, it was filled with bookshelves and quiet rooms, with only signs hanging at the entrance.

The main hall was quiet.

"Junior Brother, what do you need?" A middle-aged man in a gray-green robe walked up, looked at Han Muye, and asked softly.

Han Muye was wearing the robe of an Inner Sect disciple and carrying a cloth bag, clearly a customer.

"I'm looking for a body cultivation technique." Han Muye nodded and said.

"A body cultivation technique?" The middle-aged man in the gray-green robe muttered, looked around, and pointed to a row of bookshelves.

"Those are body cultivation techniques. Choose one, and you can post a task in a quiet room. Someone will take the task and teach you the cultivation method."

The method of teaching in a quiet room, so that the technique is not revealed to others, was a good idea.

Han Muye nodded, bowed, and walked towards the bookshelves.

The bookshelves pointed out by the middle-aged man in the gray-green robe indeed contained body cultivation techniques.

*Iron Armor Technique*

*Bronze Skin Three Forgings Technique*

*Golden Iron Bridge*

...

Han Muye took out each book one by one. The books only had a brief introduction at the beginning, followed by the required aptitude and price.

The rest of the content was blank.

*Iron Armor Technique*: After cultivation, one can form an iron armor on their body, making it impervious to blades and spears.

To cultivate this technique, one needs an eighth-grade aptitude, and the price is three hundred spirit stones or three merit points.

Han Muye didn't have three hundred spirit stones, nor did he have merit points worth three hundred spirit stones, and he certainly didn't have an eighth-grade aptitude.

*Bronze Skin Three Forgings Technique*: After three forges, one can achieve a body as tough as bronze and iron, with a strength of three thousand pounds.

To cultivate this technique, one needs a seventh-grade aptitude, and the price is five hundred spirit stones or five merit points.

This one was even more out of the question.

After flipping through several techniques, Han Muye felt a chill in his heart.

Either the aptitude requirements were too high, or the prices were too expensive.

"The Inner Sect techniques seem quite unfriendly to low-level disciples..."

Sighing softly, Han Muye muttered to himself.

Indeed, it was like that.

The techniques in the Spell Practice Hall were prepared for Inner Sect disciples who had cultivated for several years and had good cultivation levels. Even the few Outer Sect disciples who had the qualifications lacked nothing in terms of aptitude, spirit stones, and merit points.

After reviewing all the body cultivation techniques, the expensive ones cost tens of thousands of spirit stones and required a fifth-grade aptitude or higher.

The cheaper ones mostly cost two to three hundred spirit stones, and the required aptitude was generally eighth grade.

After searching, Han Muye could only pick up one book.

*Iron Ox Strength*: Cultivates the body to accumulate the strength of an ox, forming an iron ox-like physique.

This technique does not require a specific cultivation aptitude; it can be achieved through hard work, and the price is eighty spirit stones.