Meanwhile, the other champions continued searching through the hall for techniques suited to their affinities. When they noticed Li Yan sitting cross-legged before the pillar containing the Dark Hell Palm technique, they assumed he had already chosen it and was meditating to comprehend it.
None of them realized the unusual process taking place within his Spiritual Consciousness.
Time passed as the three champions eventually selected their desired techniques. One by one, they settled before their chosen pillars and began studying them in silence.
In his Spiritual Consciousness, Li Yan followed the technique's instructions carefully. As he guided the flow of Qi according to the described method, he felt a surge of dark energy gather briefly behind him before dispersing again.
His eyes opened slightly in realization.
"Incredible," he murmured. "It really works."
However, the brief attempt also revealed a limitation. Even within the spiritual simulation, he could sense the immense amount of Qi required to execute the technique properly.
He frowned slightly. "At my current cultivation level, fully practicing this technique will be difficult. I'll need a higher cultivation base before I can truly master it."
Satisfied that he had confirmed his theory, Li Yan withdrew from his Spiritual Consciousness and opened his eyes.
Back in the Ancient Techniques Hall, the other three champions remained seated before their respective pillars, fully immersed in comprehension. The Brown Rank champion had chosen the same Dark Hell Palm technique and sat not far from Li Yan, concentrating deeply.
Li Yan glanced briefly at the bracelet on his wrist.
21:37:53 remaining.
Calmly rising to his feet, he walked back toward the first pillar he had examined earlier—the one containing Thousand Shadow Steps technique.
Standing before it once again, he released his Spiritual Sense. The runes responded instantly, glowing faintly before turning golden as they separated from the pillar. Streams of light flowed into his forehead, replicating the entire technique within his Spiritual Consciousness.
With the process completed, Li Yan moved toward the third pillar.
As his hand touched the cool stone, the runes lit up, and another projection appeared.
Shadow Aura Armor
Divine-Tier Low-Level Defensive Technique.
The description unfolded beneath the name.
A technique that envelops the user's body in a dense shadow-like aura, greatly enhancing physical durability and reducing the damage of Qi-based attacks. It contains three progressive abilities. At advanced levels, the armor can retaliate automatically when struck.
Li Yan nodded slightly. "A defensive technique to balance offense," he murmured. "Useful."
Once again, he activated his Spiritual Sense. The golden runes lifted from the pillar and flowed into his mind, copying the entire technique into his Spiritual Consciousness.
With three techniques now stored—Thousand Shadow Steps, Dark Hell Palm, and Shadow Aura Armor—Li Yan remained outwardly calm, though his thoughts moved quickly.
His Spiritual Consciousness had become a decisive advantage. Not only could he comprehend techniques far faster than others, but he could also store and practice them within his inner world and learn them at his own speed.
After steadying his breathing, he approached the fourth pillar.
The moment his hand touched its surface, the engraved runes glowed with a gentle blue light, and another display appeared.
Gray Eagle Gaze
Divine-Tier Low-Level Support and Offensive Technique.
The description formed clearly before him.
This technique contains three abilities and is compatible with all elemental affinities. The first allows the user to lock onto targets and see through light fog or mist. The second ability releases concentrated energy beams from the user's eyes. The third grants enhanced vision capable of penetrating illusions and dense fog, and even provides a form of thermal perception.
Li Yan studied the details thoughtfully.
"Very practical," he murmured. "Especially the third ability."
Unlike the others, this technique was neutral—usable regardless of elemental affinity.
Without hesitation, Li Yan released his Spiritual Sense. The familiar golden characters separated from the pillar, flowing like streams of light into his mind. Within moments, the Gray Eagle Gaze technique was fully copied within his Spiritual Consciousness.
Inside his inner world, the technique manifested as another towering pillar rising from the calm surface of his Spiritual Sea. Its faint glow stood beside the three pillars he had already obtained. Four pillars now stood within the vast blue expanse, each radiating quiet power.
The distance between each pillar in the hall exceeded fifty meters, beyond the reach of his current Spiritual Sense. That meant he still had to approach each pillar physically to access its inscriptions.
Turning his attention forward, Li Yan walked toward the fifth pillar. A champion from the Azure Rank was already seated before it, deeply absorbed in comprehension. Without disturbing him, Li Yan stepped beside the pillar and placed his hand upon the stone.
The runes responded immediately, glowing as another projection formed before him.
Dark Shadows Spear
Divine-Tier Low-Level Offensive Technique.
Designed for cultivators with an affinity for darkness who wield spears. The technique contains three moves: the first two specialize in single-target strikes, while the third is designed for wide-area attacks.
Li Yan read the description calmly.
"A technique specialized for spear users with darkness affinity," he murmured. "Very effective in the right hands."
Activating his Spiritual Sense once more, he repeated the process. Golden characters lifted from the pillar and streamed into his mind, replicating the technique within his Spiritual Consciousness.
The fifth pillar soon joined the others within his inner sea.
Li Yan then moved to the sixth pillar. This one contained Umbral Sword, another Divine-Tier Low-Level offensive technique tailored for sword users with darkness affinity. Without hesitation, he copied this technique as well.
The seventh pillar stood farther away, currently occupied by the Yellow Rank champion. Li Yan approached quietly and placed his hand upon the stone once the runes became visible to him.
The technique revealed itself as Shadow Serpent, another Divine-Tier Low-Level offensive technique.
Once again, Li Yan absorbed the glowing inscriptions into his mind.
At last, he reached the eighth and final pillar.
When his hand touched the surface, the runes flared brightly, and a new display appeared before him.
Divine Blade Arts
Divine-Tier Mid-Level Offensive Technique.
Designed for swordsmen of all elemental affinities. This technique contains four forms suitable for both single-target and wide-area combat. Balanced in nature, it offers both versatility and destructive power.
Li Yan's eyes sharpened slightly.
"A neutral sword technique…" he murmured. "Perhaps the most proficient among them."
He activated his Spiritual Sense one final time. Golden streams of light flowed into his mind, and the last technique joined the growing collection within his spiritual sea.
Now eight pillars stood within that inner world.
After finishing, Li Yan glanced at the bracelet on his wrist.
19:33:06 remaining.
Though there was still plenty of time left, he could feel the strain within his mind in the form of a slight headache. The repeated use of Spiritual Sense on Divine-Tier techniques had taken its toll.
"Plenty of time remains," he muttered quietly. "But copying these techniques has already pushed my mind close to its limit."
Li Yan exhaled slowly and muttered under his breath, "I should rest a little before trying my luck with the inscriptions."
With that, he closed his eyes and began meditating, allowing his mind to recover from the strain caused by repeatedly using his Spiritual Sense.
Nearly three hours passed.
Li Yan opened his eyes, stood up, and stretched lightly before glancing at the bracelet on his wrist. The timer displayed 16:47:12 remaining.
His gaze then shifted toward the other three champions.
They had not moved.
Each remained seated before their chosen pillar, bodies tense and expressions strained with concentration. Sweat had gathered on their foreheads as they struggled to comprehend the Divine-Tier techniques before them.
Li Yan quietly observed the differences between them.
Unlike him, none of them awakened Spiritual Consciousness. For them, this single day inside the Ancient Techniques Hall was their only opportunity to grasp the essence of these techniques.
Every bit of their focus was directed toward understanding the techniques as deeply as possible before time ran out.
He understood their approach.
Without Spiritual Consciousness, comprehending and practicing Divine-Tier techniques required immense time and effort. Attempting both simultaneously would only waste precious hours.
Instead, they concentrated solely on memorizing and understanding the techniques' movements and principles so they could refine them later.
It was a careful and practical choice.
But it also revealed the difference between them and him.
Li Yan's situation was completely different.
Using his Spiritual Sense, he had already copied all eight techniques into his spiritual sea. They were stored there for future study and practice.
With his current cultivation level, even executing the first move of most Divine-Tier techniques would be extremely difficult.
Trying to force mastery now would only slow his progress.
He could study them later at his own pace.
There was no need to rush.
Li Yan turned away from the scattered pillars and walked toward the raised platform at the far end of the hall. Five tall pillars stood there, each bearing a single ancient word carved into the stone.
Suspended before each pillar hung a piece of aged leather parchment. The inscriptions upon them read:
Sword. Restoration. Strength. Spirit. Light.
As Li Yan stepped onto the platform, he felt the atmosphere change.
The air grew heavy with a strange, indescribable energy. Each pillar radiated its own aura, subtly drawing the attention of anyone who approached.
His gaze briefly shifted toward Ji Hong.
The sect leader sat cross-legged before the pillar marked Sword, his eyes closed in deep concentration. His entire focus remained fixed on the inscription, so intense that he did not even notice Li Yan's arrival.
Li Yan smiled faintly.
Turning back toward the five pillars, he studied them carefully.
"Each of these words likely holds its own benefit," he thought. "But for me… the most valuable one should be Spirit."
If his assumption was correct, it might relate directly to Spiritual Consciousness.
Without hesitation, Li Yan sat cross-legged before the parchment bearing the word Spirit. He took a slow breath, letting the hall fade from his mind as he focused entirely on the glowing calligraphy.
At first, he attempted to copy the inscription into his Spiritual Consciousness just as he had done with the techniques.
The result surprised him.
The moment the word appeared in his mind, it dissolved like mist. The structure remained, but the essence slipped away beyond his grasp.
A faint frown appeared on his face.
"So this cannot simply be copied…"
"It must be comprehended directly."
Determined, Li Yan extended his Spiritual Sense toward the parchment itself.
The instant his consciousness touched the ancient ink—
The world shifted.
The stone floor beneath him vanished.
When Li Yan opened his eyes again, he was no longer inside the Ancient Techniques Hall.
He stood within a vast forest unlike any place he had ever seen.
Towering trees stretched endlessly toward a sky that was not blue but filled with a swirling cosmic expanse. Golden light drifted through the air like falling stardust, while leaves shimmered with hues of jade and sapphire as though each carried a faint spirit within it.
The air itself felt alive.
Pure Spiritual Essence filled every breath.
The wind whispered through the trees, and every rustle of leaves seemed to carry hidden meaning. Even the silence between sounds pulsed with a rhythm that matched the beating of his heart.
Li Yan remained still, absorbing the scene before him.
This was no ordinary illusion.
It felt like a realm formed entirely from spirit itself.
Almost immediately, he sensed an invisible thread linking him to everything around him—the wind brushing past his skin, the faint hum of insects in the distance, even the roots stretching deep beneath the soil.
He was not merely standing in this world.
He was part of it.
And it… was part of him.
Then, Li Yan felt his Spiritual Consciousness begin to resonate with the surrounding realm. It was not a sound, nor a visible change. It was a subtle ripple that moved through his Spiritual Sea like a silent vibration.
Then the visions began.
A star ignited within the chaos of a galactic storm. A single cell divided, brimming with life. A child drew its first breath—energy spiraled through the cosmos, linking distant stars to living creatures, atoms to auras.
Understanding dawned gradually.
Spirit was not merely a word.
It was a principle of existence.
It was the unseen force that stirred life into motion, that connected thought to flesh and emotion to intention. It was not an element in the traditional sense. Rather, it was the foundation upon which all elements resonated.
As the realization unfolded, the world around him changed.