Cultivation begins with planting techniques

However, what truly shocked the disciples was that they had initially thought Li Ye and his group were able to return safely only because of the presence of a late-stage cultivator like Lü Jinyang, which made their situation as stable as Mount Tai.

But when reporting his achievements, Lü Jinyang bluntly stated that he had been ambushed and seriously injured, and that all the demonic cultivators were killed by Li Ye alone, with them merely assisting from the sidelines.

Him? Li Ye?

Wasn't he listed as a true disciple because of the Pure Spirit Willow?
How could someone who spends all day tinkering with spiritual plants suddenly possess such supernatural abilities?!

Everyone was puzzled, but when some information circulated, they were filled with shock.

…………

"Senior Brother Lü, Senior Brother Cheng, Senior Sister Zhuo, thank you all for your care during our journey. However, given my sensitive identity and the fact that I am coveted by the demonic path, the risks involved are too high..."

"In order not to implicate you, let's each go our own way from now on. That way, even if we encounter an enemy that we can't deal with, it will be much easier for me to escape on my own, and we won't harm any innocent people!"

After handing over the task and dividing their contributions, Li Ye called out to Lü Jinyang and the other two before parting ways, speaking earnestly.

"This……"

Lu Jinyang and the other two were taken aback and exchanged glances.

Li Ye's statement seems to be correct.

If it weren't for his leak of information, which led to the Netherworld Sect's ambush, they would never have ended up in such a predicament.

The simplest way to avoid facing that crisis again is to separate from him.

However, although Li Ye did not say it explicitly, Lu Jinyang and the other two inexplicably felt that they had become a burden.

He couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself.

I was ordered to come with Li Ye and protect his safety, so how did it suddenly turn out like this!

They desperately wanted to confront the issue and explain that this was a mission assigned by the sect leader to protect his safety.

But considering the sword skills that Li Ye had previously displayed, it seemed that having three more of them would be completely meaningless!
Lu Jinyang stroked his long beard and could only sigh helplessly, "Junior Brother Li has a point, so we'll go with your suggestion..."

"If you encounter any trouble later, please feel free to come to us!"

"Thank you very much, senior brother. I will remember this in my heart."

Li Ye cupped his hands in farewell and took his leave.

Looking at his rather dashing figure, which seemed somewhat out of place in the atmosphere of the camp, Lü Jinyang sighed softly. Such a person was truly one he had never seen before in his life.

Who knows, in the future, his Heavenly Sword Sect will have another Nascent Soul True Monarch!

With this thought in mind, he turned to look at Lin Jue and Zhuo Xuan again, feeling that the three of them were somewhat superfluous.

However, this feeling was fleeting, and he immediately laughed and said, "Although there is no need to travel with Junior Brother Li anymore, since we are here, we should naturally take up our swords to eliminate demons and serve the sect!"

"Let us go back and meditate to heal our wounds. Once we are fully recovered, we will go and seek revenge on those demonic villains for the ambush we suffered!"

Lu Jinyang's words were firm and inspiring, which rekindled the fighting spirit of Cheng Linjue and Zhuo Xuan, which had been suppressed by Li Ye's performance, and they immediately agreed.

"We'll do as Senior Brother arranges!"

………………

"In this way, everyone will be satisfied..."

Li Ye returned alone to his temporary cave dwelling and rested for a while.

Through a mission, he demonstrated his strength, allowing Lü Jinyang and his group to clearly see the gap between themselves, thus providing an explanation to the sect leader. Even if the sect leader learned of this afterwards, he wouldn't be dissatisfied; instead, he would only be pleasantly surprised by the talent he had displayed.

This approach, compared to accepting the mission inside the mountain gate and refusing Lü Jinyang and his group's request, would have avoided many complications.

As a late-stage cultivator about to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, Li Ye has been practicing swordsmanship for some time now, using his clone as a means of communication.

During his previous trip to the Ancient Huan Realm, the journey was tedious, and he often met with Meng Jingde and Bai Minghua at the bow of the ship to discuss the Dao.

Through the solidification of numerous entries and continuous feedback and insights, Li Ye's own comprehension and talent have also improved over time.

With the guidance of a master swordsman like Meng Jingde, mastering these sword skills was not particularly difficult.

The splitting of sword light and the thunderous sound of swords were no longer a problem for him; the only thing limiting their power was his own cultivation level.

The only technique, refining swords into silk, was one that even Meng Jingde had not fully mastered.

Now that his clones lack both spiritual power and magical strength to support such methods, he is not in a hurry to study them.

Ultimately, sword techniques are merely a supplement to Li Ye's own combat methods. Those who can cultivate them in accordance with their own cultivation direction can also improve simultaneously.

Compared to temporarily crafted treasures like the Wind and Fire Blade, its power is naturally several times greater!

…………

As Li Ye resumed acting alone, he no longer held back his methods and unleashed the full potential of his clone's sword techniques.

They are quite active in battles large and small, but they will definitely take on any suitable mission as soon as possible.

No matter which demonic cultivator he encountered, whether it was a disciple of the Netherworld Sect who was skilled in blood-path demonic arts, or a member of the Profound Yin Cave Sect who had sinister techniques and carried corpses with him, none of them could escape from his grasp.

He had only been on the front lines for a few months, yet the number of kills he had committed was already astonishing. His accumulated contributions were even enough for him to apply to withdraw from the war and return to his mountain retreat for quiet cultivation.

But he never seemed to have considered these things, only focusing on the battlefield, killing one demonic villain after another!

No one of his level could withstand a single blow from him, and even those of higher levels could be cut down by him in no more than two sword strikes!
The combat power it displayed completely overturned the long-standing rumors within the Heavenly Sword Sect that the Longevity Sword Manual was slightly weak in offensive combat but was an excellent method for health preservation and longevity.

In the hearts of these Heavenly Sword Sect disciples, a completely different image of Li Ye was created, one that was entirely different from the Li Ye of the past.

They truly regarded him as a prodigy of the Heavenly Sword Sect, a true disciple worthy of his title!

…………

pat.

In a secluded mountain cave, a Xuan Yin Cave disciple at the mid-stage of the Innate Realm collapsed, his expression contorted with rage and disbelief, dying with his eyes wide open.

Li Ye, standing before him, had already transformed into the form of the Pure Willow, his magical power pulsating and reaching its peak.

As most of the impurities dissipated and his magical power returned to its pure state, leaving only a faint, almost imperceptible trace, he finally regained his human form.

This place is not a place for long-term cultivation. Now that the foundation-seizing has been completed and most of the hidden dangers have been eliminated, the remaining minor effects can be resolved by cultivating again at the camp.

"Although this Foundation Seizing Technique no longer requires malevolent energy after my modifications, the cost of seizing the cultivation of someone whose cultivation method is not compatible with it is still too high..."

"Capturing so many demonic cultivators only brought me to the edge of a breakthrough."

Li Ye shook his head, then a smile appeared on his face. "But to have reached this point in just a few months, such efficiency is unprecedented!"

He casually flicked out a fireball, burning the already fragile corpse on the ground to ashes, erasing all traces, and then drifted away.

To advance to the late stage of the Innate Realm, one needs to refine and balance one's Qi. Now is the time to return to the camp to complete the breakthrough! (End of Chapter)