Yu Long then asked, "Now tell me—what type of weapons would you prefer?"
"A neutral sword," Li Yan replied without hesitation.
The answer visibly surprised Yu Long and the other champions.
Before Yu Long could respond, Ji Hong smiled knowingly. "I expected that answer from you."
He turned toward Yu Long. "Elder Yu, inform Elder Han to prepare the neutral weapons she collected from the stock brought back by our elders from the outside world."
Yu Long frowned slightly. "Sect Leader… those weapons are old and previously used."
Li Yan spoke before Ji Hong needed to answer. "That is acceptable, Elder Yu, as long as they are not broken or defective. I'm currently using one myself."
The other three champions exchanged startled glances. None of them had expected the White Rank champion to choose worn neutral weapons instead of newly forged elemental ones.
Noticing their expressions, Li Yan explained calmly, "Neutral weapons are better for practice. Elemental weapons amplify power—but they also hide flaws, they also make cultivators rely on the weapon instead of refining their own power and pushing their own limits."
Ji Hong nodded approvingly. "Li Yan is correct."
Understanding dawned on the other champions.
The Brown Rank champion decides immediately. "Elder Yu… may I also exchange one of my weapons for a neutral one?"
The Yellow Rank was hesitant, then convinced, "Me too." Azure Rank, thoughtful, analytical, added, "I would like the same."
Yu Long looked toward Ji Hong for confirmation.
Ji Hong chuckled softly. "Of course. After you visit the Ancient Techniques Hall, Elder Yu will take you to the Treasury so you can select your weapons personally."
Yu Long inclined his head. "Understood."
With that, he stepped aside as Ji Hong turned toward a massive stone door on the left side of the chamber.
"Follow me," the sect leader said calmly as he walked toward it.
Beyond that door awaited the Ancient Techniques Hall.
The door stood tall and imposing, its massive surface carved with intricate patterns that shimmered faintly under the hall's light. Ji Hong retrieved a blue jade medallion from his spatial ring and placed it into a slot at the center of the door.
As he channeled Qi into the jade, the carvings across the door awakened. Ancient formations spread outward like ripples, glowing softly before a low clicking sound echoed through the chamber. Moments later, the heavy door slowly creaked open.
Ji Hong stepped inside first. Li Yan and the other champions followed.
The moment they entered, the lamps lining the walls flared to life one after another, revealing the interior of the Ancient Techniques Hall.
The chamber was vast—spanning more than three hundred square meters. A polished white stone floor stretched across the hall, reflecting the warm light of the lamps. Despite its ancient title, the place looked immaculate, as though it had been built recently.
Throughout the hall stood numerous short platforms, each no more than a foot high. Atop eight platforms rested a square stone pillar covered in ancient inscriptions. The carved runes pulsed faintly, giving off a quiet aura of mystery and age.
At the far end of the hall stood a raised central platform about five feet high. Five towering pillars surrounded it in a perfect circle, each radiating a far stronger and more refined presence than the others. The energy emanating from that area alone made it clear that it held the most powerful techniques.
The champions paused briefly, absorbing the scene before them.
Ji Hong turned toward them, his voice calm yet authoritative as it echoed through the chamber. "This is the Ancient Techniques Hall. Whatever you see or learn here must not be shared outside this place."
"There are eight techniques preserved within this hall, each belonging to the Divine-Tier. The Elders who earn with their contribution to the sect and the champions of the annual competition are permitted to study them."
The Yellow Rank champion looked around in quiet amazement, his eyes moving from pillar to pillar as if afraid to miss anything. The Azure Rank champion stared intently at the glowing runes carved into the stone, curiosity and excitement flickering across her face.
The Brown Rank champion, broad-shouldered and imposing, clenched his fists slightly, barely containing his enthusiasm.
Li Yan, however, remained composed. His gaze moved slowly across the hall, not merely observing the pillars but sensing the subtle fluctuations of energy emanating from the inscriptions.
"First, Divine Realms and now, Divine Tier techniques…" he thought silently. "Later, I should ask Elder Ji about the Divine Realm and these Divine Tier techniques."
Ji Hong gestured toward the platforms scattered throughout the hall. "You may choose any technique you wish. If you believe you are capable, you may attempt to learn more than one."
"However…" he paused briefly before continuing, "choose carefully. Greed often leads to failure. You will have only one day to study these techniques."
His gaze swept across the four champions.
"Do not select a technique simply because it appears powerful. A technique that suits your cultivation path will serve you far better than one you cannot fully master. I also recommend you guys try your best to memorize the technique instead of pushing yourselves into practicing."
"Because with your current cultivation, you aren't able to perform even a first ability or move of theirs. And don't worry about the chance, when you reach the cultivation to become an Elder, you have plenty of chances to return here."
The Azure Rank champion stepped forward slightly, curiosity evident in her calm voice. "Sect Leader, how do we determine which technique suits us best?"
Ji Hong smiled faintly. "The hall itself will guide you. Approach the pillars and allow your Qi to interact with them. When a technique resonates with you, it will reveal itself. Trust your instincts and allow the bond between you and the technique to form naturally."
He paused briefly before adding another instruction. "There is one more rule. Even if you successfully learn a technique here, you are not permitted to use it openly within the sect or show off in front of others."
"However, you may use it in the valley, the Hunting Grounds during hunts, or outside the sect if you undertake missions in the future, yet only when needed."
The four champions nodded in understanding.
The Brown Rank champion grinned broadly, unable to hide his excitement. "Finally, a chance to master something extraordinary."
The Yellow Rank champion nodded thoughtfully. "Opportunities like this rarely appear more than once."
Li Yan remained silent. His attention had already shifted toward the raised platform at the far end of the hall. Something about it felt different. A faint pull lingered there, almost like a whisper drawing his attention.
Ji Hong noticed his gaze and chuckled softly. "That platform is different. It does not contain any techniques."
He pointed toward the towering pillars surrounding it. "Those hold five inscriptions—ancient words discovered on another planet by our ancestors."
"For generations, no one has managed to comprehend them," Ji Hong continued. "Not even me. Our sect's ancestor once said that understanding them requires either awakening the ability called Spiritual Consciousness or an exceptionally powerful mind."
He paused for a moment before adding, "Whenever I have spare time, I come here to meditate on those inscriptions. Even so, I have yet to understand a single one. If any of you wish to examine them after choosing your techniques, you may try—but do not expect quick results."
Li Yan's eyes brightened slightly at the mention of Spiritual Consciousness.
Unbeknownst to Ji Hong, Li Yan had already awakened it.
A quiet determination stirred within him. If those inscriptions truly required Spiritual Consciousness to comprehend, then this opportunity was too valuable to ignore.
Ji Hong raised his hand and gestured toward the scattered pillars. "You may begin. Your bracelets will display the remaining time. You have twenty-four hours."
With that, he walked calmly toward the central platform and sat cross-legged before one of the ancient pillars, focusing his eyes on the word in front of him as he began meditating on the inscriptions once more.
The champions glanced at the bracelets on their wrists as the countdown began.
Twenty-four hours.
The Brown Rank champion immediately hurried toward the nearest pillar, unable to hide his eagerness. The Azure and Yellow Rank champions moved more cautiously, scanning the glowing inscriptions with focused curiosity.
Li Yan moved differently.
His steps were slow and deliberate as he approached the first pillar before him. Placing his hand upon its smooth stone surface, he allowed a strand of Qi to flow outward.
The runes engraved on the pillar reacted immediately, glowing faintly.
A moment later, a translucent projection appeared before him, displaying the details of a technique.
Thousand Shadow Steps:
A Divine-Tier Low-Level movement technique suited for the darkness element. The technique focuses on speed and agility and contains three abilities: greatly enhanced movement speed, short-distance teleportation, and the creation of shadow clones.
Li Yan studied the information carefully. Though the structure of the technique appeared simpler than some Mortal-Tier High-Level techniques, its potential was immediately obvious.
"Interesting," he murmured.
Its versatility made it particularly valuable. In combat, mobility frequently decides victory or defeat. A technique enabling both rapid acceleration and short-range teleportation could offer a critical edge in both offense and defense.
Still, Li Yan did not select it immediately.
He stepped away from the pillar and moved toward another platform, determined to examine more techniques before making his choice.
When he reached the second pillar, he placed his hand upon its surface. The ancient inscriptions responded instantly, glowing with a soft blue light before forming another translucent display.
Dark Hell Palm
Divine-Tier Mid-Level Offensive Technique.
The description unfolded beneath the name.
This technique unleashes condensed, palm-shaped manifestations of dark energy that can overwhelm opponents. It contains four progressive forms, each more powerful than the last. Mastery requires exceptional control over the darkness element and significant reserves of Qi.
Li Yan's eyes sharpened.
"Four abilities of a single Divine-Tier technique…" he murmured. "Speed decides survival… but power decides endings."
The complexity alone suggested tremendous potential. Each form would likely surpass the previous one by a significant margin. In the hands of someone with refined Darkness Qi, its destructive capability would be formidable.
As he prepared to move toward the third pillar, a thought suddenly surfaced.
"Elder Ji said Spiritual Consciousness allows one to comprehend the inscriptions…"
He had already used his Spiritual Sense to enhance learning speed and memorize knowledge. If it could help to comprehend the inscriptions themselves—
"Why not apply it directly to these techniques?"
The idea felt natural.
Without hesitation, Li Yan sat cross-legged before the Dark Hell Palm pillar. Closing his eyes, he directed his Spiritual Sense toward the glowing runes carved into the stone.
The reaction was immediate.
The inscriptions brightened, their blue glow turning a faint golden hue. One by one, the glowing characters separated from the pillar and drifted toward him like streams of light, entering his forehead silently.
A faint pressure pressed against his consciousness—then yielded. The entire process remained invisible to the others in the hall.
The other champions continued studying their pillars, and even Ji Hong, seated at the central platform, remained unaware.
Within moments, the entire technique had been absorbed.
Li Yan opened his eyes briefly, a satisfied expression flickering across his face before he closed them again and sank into his Spiritual Consciousness.
Inside his inner world, the familiar blue sea stretched endlessly before him.
With a single thought, the technique he had just absorbed manifested within that space. The sea stirred as the pillar rose, ripples spreading outward like memory taking form. A few moments later, a golden pillar fully seen in front of him, identical to the one in the hall.
The words of Dark Hell Palm technique shimmered across it, radiating an intimidating yet fascinating aura.
"So it works," Li Yan murmured.
The realization was significant. His Spiritual Consciousness did not merely assist in comprehension—it could replicate the techniques themselves, allowing him to study and practice them within his inner world.
To confirm this discovery, Li Yan sat cross-legged before the golden pillar.
His focus settled on the Dark Hell Palm — First Form.
And he began to comprehend it.