The Immortal Ascension

Chapter 40: The Origin of the Secret Technique

Those who complained were unaware that the Elder who created this sword technique had his profound internal energy accidentally destroyed by an opponent during a fierce Jianghu battle in his prime, rendering him unable to cultivate True Qi ever again.

Fearing a drastic decline in his status within the sect, the Elder did not reveal this to anyone. Instead, he pretended to have made significant progress in his martial arts, appearing mysterious and unfathomable, thus deceiving everyone in the sect, big and small.

However, the fact remained that he had lost the ability to protect himself. From then on, he lived a reclusive life, relying on his exceptional wit to avoid detection by others.

That period marked the peak of the Seven Mysteries Sect's dominance in Jingzhou.

When the Elder realized that his energy could not be restored, in despair, he secretly used his authority to send his subordinates to raid many obscure and hidden minor sects, unbeknownst to the other leaders.

From these sects, he forcibly seized many clandestine martial arts manuals, hoping to find a supreme martial skill that could be used without relying on internal energy.

After years of plundering, he indeed discovered many incredible secret techniques, but none of them were suitable for his use.

He was deeply disappointed.

This Elder was a man of great talent and exceptional intelligence. In his despair, he conceived the idea of utilizing the numerous secret techniques he had acquired to create a unique martial art tailored for himself.

This idea excited him immensely. Creating a unique martial art was the lifelong dream of every martial artist. From then on, he became completely absorbed in this endeavor, dedicating himself to researching and experimenting with various ideas. Eventually, to avoid being distracted by mundane affairs, he even entered seclusion, no longer concerning himself with the sect's external conflicts.

Creating a martial art is an extremely difficult task, especially one with such limitations—it had to be usable without True Qi and had to incorporate numerous secret techniques to become a profound and supreme martial skill.

The unprecedented creation of this martial art was far more arduous than he had imagined. However, he was a man of great perseverance. After nearly half a lifetime of painstaking effort and decades of relentless work, the Blinking Sword Manual was finally born.

The Elder was overjoyed. When he eagerly shared the good news with others in the sect, he was shocked to discover that the Seven Mysteries Sect had completely declined. The entire sect was under siege by numerous gangs, on the verge of total annihilation.

The Elder, now in his sixties, was both alarmed and furious. In this critical moment, he utilized the bizarre sword technique he had just mastered, unleashing its Divine Might. He slew numerous powerful enemies and intimidated the remaining experts, carving a bloody path through the encirclement and leading the Seven Mysteries Sect to safety, thus making an immense contribution to the sect's survival.

Unfortunately, shortly after escaping the danger, the Elder reached the end of his life. He left behind a final command to place the sword manual, the fruit of his life's work, into the Seven Wonders Hall, and then passed away.

Even more regrettable was that in the years that followed, none of the subsequent disciples, up until Han Li, attempted to practice this technique. Thus, this gem remained buried in obscurity, unseen by the world.Han Li was completely unaware of the events that had transpired in the past, and even if he had known, it wouldn't have stirred any emotions in him. For him, this sword technique was suitable for his cultivation and might help him preserve his life in the hands of Doctor Mo. That was all that mattered. As for its origins or who created it, Han Li had no interest whatsoever. He was a very pragmatic person and wouldn't bother to understand something that offered him no tangible benefits.

In his room, Han Li lit an oil lamp and leaned over the wooden table, continuing to flip through one secret manual after another under the dim light.

He had no intention of actually copying the manuals. Instead, he planned to rely on his extraordinary memory to forcefully imprint all of them into his mind. This way, he would neither risk losing them nor worry about the danger of leaks.

After all, he remained highly vigilant against Doctor Mo and wasn't foolish enough to believe that the man wasn't monitoring him at all. If so many copied manuals were found in his room, it would expose everything, allowing Doctor Mo to take precautions against him in advance.

The orange flame of the lamp let out a soft "pop," producing a small spark, reminding Han Li that a long time had passed and he should rest soon.

But Han Li paid no attention to this. He was completely immersed in the world of the manuals. The bizarre techniques described in the books had captivated his entire mind.

As the sparks continued to crackle one after another, the shadow cast on the wall swayed and fluctuated in size. Yet, Han Li himself remained seated, motionless. This contrast between movement and stillness created an eerie yet strangely harmonious sensation.

Time passed in quarter-hour increments, and the shadow behind Han Li gradually shifted from clear to blurry, then from blurry to blank. Outside, the sky had already brightened.

Unknowingly, Han Li had spent the entire night engrossed in his reading.

With a final "pop," the last large spark burst, and the oil lamp completely extinguished, finally jolting Han Li out of his trance.

He glanced at the lamp, then looked out the window at the bright light, feeling a bitter laugh rise within him.

He never thought there would come a day when he would be so obsessed with studying techniques of killing. He was truly different from his former self.

Han Li sighed for a while before standing up, twisting his neck, and stretching his limbs, causing his joints to crackle. Then he turned and walked out the door, fetching a basin of cold water from a nearby deep well. He washed his face thoroughly, refreshing himself, and then circulated the Eternal Spring Art through his body, dispelling all traces of fatigue from the night.

After a whole night of reading and studying, Han Li had come to realize that mastering this martial art completely would take at least eight to ten years of rigorous practice. Even with his exceptional talent in this area, it would still take him two or three years to achieve a Minor Achievement.

But time waits for no one!

(End of Chapter)