Beside a wooden shack that looked as though it might collapse at any moment, a sixteen-year-old boy was practicing a saber technique.
He had a youthful and handsome appearance, his features still carrying some of the softness of adolescence despite the faint maturity that had begun to settle over his face. His black hair was tied simply behind his head, while his slender figure moved with surprising steadiness as the saber in his hand repeatedly swept through the air.
He was only performing basic saber moves, yet an unprecedented level of concentration could be seen in them. His movements were simple, without any unnecessary flourish, but each one was executed with increasing precision.
Eventually, that concentration finally broke. Gu Yuan lowered his saber and let out a quiet breath. A calm and satisfied expression appeared on his face as he put the saber away.
Lately, he felt more like a martial artist than a cultivator, considering how much time he spent practicing his saber technique. Even so, he was perfectly fine with that. His Orb of Creation was still compensating for it by continuously absorbing Spirit Qi into his body.
Besides, simply moving his body was something he had come to enjoy, and feel grateful for, after the long period in his previous life when he had been confined to a sickbed, unable to move freely.
Regardless, after checking the condition of his body and examining his dantian, Gu Yuan remained still for a moment. Then, in a quietly cheerful voice, he muttered,
"It’s finally time to buy a cultivation technique."
He had already delayed it long enough. Now, it was time to break through into the Foundation Establishment Realm.
The Nine Cycle Qi Manual he was currently practicing could still help him break through. However, Gu Yuan did not wish to advance with it.
The Nine Cycle Qi Manual was a basic technique capable of cultivating any type of Spirit Qi, allowing one to adapt it according to one’s spiritual root. In that sense, it held a certain advantage. However, Metal Qi refined through a specialized metal-attribute cultivation technique would be far superior to what the basic manual could produce.
His decision already made, Gu Yuan finally left his house.
At only sixteen years old, he had already reached the peak of the Qi Refinement Realm and was about to break through into the Foundation Establishment Realm.
If others knew about this, how astonished would they be?
Gu Yuan reminded himself that this achievement was largely due to the Orb of Creation rather than his own efforts alone. Even so, he could not entirely suppress a quiet sense of pride.
Feeling that his pride was starting to swell a little too much, Gu Yuan shook his head and forced himself to think about something else.
During these last two years since the Wang Ling incident, everything had been peaceful.
Too peaceful, in fact.
No Disciplinary Hall disciple had come looking for him, the rumors surrounding him had completely died down, and most importantly, the twins seemed to have completely forgotten about him. For Gu Yuan, life could not have been any better.
Yet with only one month remaining before the outer sect competition, he still needed to make a decision about whether he should leave or stay.
He was somewhat worried that those twins might suddenly appear before then. Even so, considering the progress he had made, he had already passed the redhead’s test, so his life should no longer be in danger.
Thinking of the twins helped him regain his composure. His original intention, to keep a low profile and pursue a long, peaceful life, settled firmly in his mind once more.
Soon, he arrived at the Scripture Pavilion.
Once again, he came face-to-face with the elder sitting in front of it. After politely greeting him, Gu Yuan said, "One day’s access to the second floor."
After completing the procedure and receiving his entry badge, Gu Yuan went directly upstairs.
However, before heading to the section where techniques were stored, he first began browsing through the miscellaneous information available on the second floor.
Over the past two years, Gu Yuan had continued investigating the surrounding region through various means. From what he had learned, one conclusion stood out clearly: the Black Desolation Sect was far stronger than he had initially thought.
It was considered an evil sect, yet it maintained a known and stable territory, unlike the Corpse Furnace Sect, which operated from numerous hidden bases and lived in constant concealment. The fact that the Black Desolation Sect still stood openly, with no one able to do anything about it, was the strongest evidence of its strength.
And there was another thing Gu Yuan had learned about them. No sect was more petty or held grudges more than they did.
For traitors, death was the least of their worries. Many would have their bodies destroyed and their souls trapped within the Black Desolation Banner, tortured for eternity.
So, if Gu Yuan wanted to run, he could not simply move somewhere nearby. He would have to leave the country entirely.
Yet that was easier said than done.
The outside world was even more dangerous than the sect. Bandits, rogue cultivators without sects or affiliations, were everywhere, while demonic beasts also roamed the wilderness. During these two years, Gu Yuan had gradually come to understand just how dangerous the cultivation world truly was.
And that was why he had never been able to make up his mind... until now.
Standing in the Scripture Pavilion, he intended to verify the credibility of the information he had gathered.
He hoped his investigations had been wrong. Unfortunately, what he found in the library pointed toward one cruel truth. The outside world really was dangerous.
His wish had not been answered. The situation was just as grim as his previous investigations had suggested.
So, did that mean he should give up on running and simply hope that those twins had truly forgotten about him?
Did he really have to leave his fate to the whims of those twins?
Gu Yuan wondered helplessly before finally making his way toward the technique area.
Compared to the other sections, this area was much smaller, containing only a few shelves. Gu Yuan quickly searched through the cultivation techniques, filtering for those related to Metal Qi.
He found four.
All four were Spirit Grade.
Cultivation techniques were divided into five grades: Mortal, Spirit, Profound, Earth, and Heaven. Each grade was further divided into Low, Mid, High, and Top Grades.
Gu Yuan had not expected to find an Earth-Grade or Heaven-Grade cultivation technique here.
But all Spirit Grade?
And not even a single Top-Grade one?
He could not help but sigh as he examined the four techniques.
After eliminating the two Low-Grade techniques, only two remained.
The Thousand Cuts Silent Harvest, a Mid-Grade Spirit technique, and the Hundred Tempering Metal Scripture, a High-Grade Spirit technique.
At first glance, the Thousand Cuts Silent Harvest seemed more powerful. It embodied the aggressive sharpness of Metal Qi, emphasizing its destructive and penetrating nature, while the Hundred Tempering Metal Scripture focused primarily on building a firm foundation.
Despite their difference in grade, both techniques could be cultivated all the way to the peak of the Golden Core Realm.
That was why Gu Yuan hesitated for a moment between the two.