Cloud Dust Sword Technique, Spirit Condensation Realm

In the end, Zhang Li chose three sword cultivation methods.

One could form a sword spirit with the Azure Sun Sword Technique in the Great Success Realm.

Meanwhile, the Green Lotus Sword Technique could be cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

There was also a mortal martial arts sword technique called the Cloud Dust Sword Technique.

Dust in the mortal world was the foundation of the Cloud Dust Sword Technique. It emphasized an erratic swordsmanship style so that the user's sword would reach the enemy in combat.

This sword technique required one to have an extremely strong body but also a certain degree of toughness and gentleness to cultivate.

It was a high requirement.

Thus, Zhang Li swallowed a Body-tempering Pill that was worth 20 spirit stones.

The Body-tempering Pill could condense his body's spirit energy, blood, bones, and tendons. As a result, his body's strength would increase.

Consuming this pill would allow one's physical strength to reach an extremely powerful realm, and one's meridians would also be tempered.

The medicinal effect was indeed not bad. After he swallowed it, Zhang Li was covered in sweat, and it felt as if his muscles and bones had exploded.

There was a soft rumbling sound when the medicinal power was released, and he clenched his fist slightly.

A full-strength punch would require at least a few thousand pounds of force.

This was two to three times more than the peak of the Tendon Transformation Realm.

As expected of a pill that cost 20 spirit stones.

For an outer court disciple of a large sect like the Misty Cloud Sect, it would take at least 10 years to save up 20 spirit stones.

Who would be willing to spend 10 years of their life for such a pill?

With this Body-tempering Pill, Zhang Li decided that he would wait for the body-tempering cultivation method.

While he practiced the Cloud Dust Sword Technique, his movements felt extremely fluid no matter how he drew his sword.

His figure moved with the sword, and the entire room was filled with the shadows of his figure and the sword.

Each time he drew his sword, the sound of wind and thunder accompanied him.

Now that his movements were comparable to that of light clouds, he had learned the basics of the Cloud Dust Sword Technique.

As the sword's shadow shot out, the long sword in his hand flashed with a clear light.

This was the appearance of True Essence that had been activated. It was materializing to help strengthen the sword.

Only those in the Spirit Condensation Realm could display their True Essence outside their bodies and guide it to strengthen their swords and weapons.

"I already reached the Spirit Condensation Realm?

"Do I really have the talent to cultivate martial arts?"

His martial arts cultivation had been smooth sailing. For one, he had advanced to the Spirit Condensation Realm just like that.

It was so simple.

Many martial artists cultivated intensely for decades before they entered the Spirit Condensation Realm. If they knew about Zhang Li, they would probably vomit blood.

"Unfortunately, they don't have a pill that costs 20 spirit stones." Zhang Li waved his sword lightly and spoke in a smug voice.

He had easily learned the sword technique and made a breakthrough in his martial arts cultivation. If he ignored the power of a pill that cost 20 spirit stones, it would seem like he was indeed talented.

He looked at the two sword techniques that required immortal Dao True Essence to be activated, and they did not seem very difficult to him.

He "danced" around a few times as if there was a sharp sword spirit surging in his body.

From the looks of it, he had apparently become a swordsman.

Nevertheless, he could not be proud.

One had to be down-to-earth and take one step at a time.

Zhang Li was in a good mood after he put the array disk away.

When he walked out of the quiet room, the courtyard was already shrouded in the sunset's golden-red color.

Meanwhile, the bluestone and pine trees seemed to be immersed in immortal clouds.

"The setting sun is infinitely beautiful, but..."

His poem was inauspicious, so Zhang Li chose to let it hang.

"What a nice phrase. The setting sun is infinitely beautiful... I didn't expect an immortal, who isn't tainted by the mortal world, to actually have such literary talent," a voice echoed outside the courtyard.

Zhang Li looked up and saw a seven-foot-tall young man in his early 20s standing at the door. He was wearing a green embroidered robe.

The young man was holding a rather exquisite gift box in his hand.

"Mr. Zhang, how was the Dragon Moon Before the Rain?"

"I, Zhao Ji, have brought you two gold taels' worth of Cassia Snow Cloud today."

The young man smiled as he walked into the small courtyard and patted his forehead.

"Oh, I forgot that you might not be familiar with Cassia Snow Cloud. It's—"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Li nonchalantly interjected with his hands behind his back, "It's from Yuntai, and it tastes like fog and snow. It's the best tea in the world."

Zhang Li's words stunned the young man, and a look of reverence appeared on his face.

"Sir, you really are one of the immortals—"

Just as Zhao Ji began to praise him, Zhang Li suddenly said, "Is there anyone here from the Lin family?"

The Lin family of Yuntai...

Zhao Ji looked at Zhang Li suspiciously.

If he did not know that this person was a cultivator who had been banished to the mortal realm during the Gathering of Immortals, he would have suspected that Zhang Li was a liar.

How could a cultivator, who had only been in the mortal world for a month, know about the Lin family of Yuntai? Besides, he had been hiding in Jing Yang Temple all this time.

Zhao Ji composed himself and walked up to the steps. He bowed and said, "Sir, for your information, there are 1,000-year-old aristocratic families in this world with endless martial arts inheritance. The Lin family of Yuntai is just one of them."

"They have a hold over Cassia Snow Cloud tea. They only send 10 catties of tea leaves as tribute to the imperial court every three years."

A 1,000-year-old family... Zhang Li had no idea there was such a rarely recorded family.

He reached out to accept the brocade box and unseal it. The green jade-like tea leaves inside seemed to emit traces of spirit energy.

It was indeed a wonderful rare tea.

"I have an old friend who planted three tea trees in Yuntai."

"If anything happens to the Lin family, report it to me."

Zhang Li's gaze landed on the young man before him as he closed the wooden box.

Zhao Ji had to be someone important because he was able to travel freely in Jing Yang Temple and see him so easily. He even knew about his background.

Not many people in the entire Jing Yang Temple knew his identity.

Previously, he had sent Zhang Li one or two gold taels' worth of Dragon Moon Before the Rain. Now, it was Cassia Snow Cloud, which the Lin family only sent to the imperial court every three years.

It was not difficult to pinpoint Zhao Ji's identity.

It was impossible for anyone other than a member of the imperial family to be capable of this.

Even an ordinary imperial family would not have been able to obtain two gold taels of Cassia Snow Cloud.

"Sir, don't worry. I will pay more attention to the Lin family." Hearing Zhang Li's words, Zhao Ji's face lit up, and he quickly bowed.

An old friend?

The mortal world was isolated from the cultivation world. How could this person in front of him have an old friend in the Lin family?

However, it did not matter if he had an old friend or not. As long as this person was willing to give him the opportunity to befriend him, he would take it.

In Zhang Li's opinion, it was truly extraordinary for a country's imperial family to bend the knee like this.

"Tell me, why are you here to see me?" Zhang Li asked directly.

His words made Zhao Ji's shoulders tremble slightly. He hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice, "My father would like to invite you—"

Before he could finish, Zhang Li shook his head and said, "There are rules for the guardian disciples. They're not allowed to interfere with the decisions of the imperial court or the appointment of the emperor."

The decision of the court, the abolition of the emperor!

Zhao Ji felt his heart beating rapidly.

Did the imperial family's secret teachings not say that these banished immortal cultivators were mostly inexperienced and easy to get along with?

Did his father's trusted aide not say that if he paid a small price, he could gain the trust of Master Zhang and make him work for the prince?

Someone else had also said that most banished immortal cultivators were nearing the end of their lifespans. As long as they were cared for and given access to their inheritance, it would not be difficult for these cultivators to leave behind treasures.

Yet, why was the person before him completely different?

His casual words seemed to indicate that he had seen through everything.

He had the boldness to say anything in the imperial court.

It was recorded in the secret biographies that the cultivation of the immortal cultivators was not considered profound. In addition, very few of them were in the grandmaster realm.

Normally, Zhao Ji could speak confidently before a great grandmaster, yet why was he so timid in front of this person?

Zhao Ji tried his best to sound more sincere. "Mr. Zhang, I have no other intentions. I'm single-minded—"

"Spirit stones, pills, talismans, cultivation techniques, or weapons? What do you want?" Zhang Li's voice was filled with a sense of alienation.

However, there was an irresistible temptation in these distant words.

Spirit stones were worth thousands of gold. They were a necessity for the world's experts to cultivate the immortal path. They were treasures that experts used to communicate with each other.

Some medicinal pills could bring people back to life, some could save people 10 to 20 years of cultivation, while others could remove blemishes and retain a person's youth forever.

Talismans and armor were treasures that could greatly increase one's strength.

Immortal cultivation techniques were also treasures that countless experts in the world could not obtain. They were the foundation for the rise of those thousand-year-old families.

Seeing that Zhao Ji was hesitant and at a loss, Zhang Li sighed internally.

He was being awful.

Zhao Ji was still a child, so how could he resist such temptation?

"Do you want both?" Zhang Li asked softly.

The corner of Zhao Ji's mouth twitched as he raised his head to look at Zhang Li. The flame of desire in his eyes could not be concealed no matter what.

"I'll give you this sword in exchange for your tea leaves.

"Come and find me once you've thought about what you want and what you can give me.

"Otherwise, don't come."

Zhang Li straightened his body and wore a calm expression. He threw the sword he had been practicing with into Zhao Ji's arms. Then, he turned around and walked into the hall.

Zhao Ji was momentarily stunned before he grabbed the sword.

Clang!

The long sword was partially out of its sheath. Like water, the light from the sword reflected the setting sun and revealed a mysterious glow.

Just then, a voice rang out behind Zhao Ji. "What a good sword!"