Cultivating immortality through titles, without bottlenecks.

"Above cultivation level?"

Wei Zhong pondered the meaning behind those words, then looked up and asked:

"What was Master's strength like when he reached the mid-stage of Qi Refining?"

Wei Zhong pressed on with his questions, but Lin Qingyuan showed no anger, instead appearing thoughtful:

"It's been too long, even I don't know for sure. But I reckon it should be enough to reach the later stages of Qi Refining."

"Back then, my Qingfeng Sword Technique was not yet perfected, and my application of the sword was not as advanced as it is now."

"Now, what about above that? Against mid-Foundation Establishment, late-Foundation Establishment, or even Core Formation True Person..." Before Wei Zhong could finish speaking, Lin Qingyuan slapped his forehead with his magic sword.

"If I were capable of defeating a Core Formation cultivator, why would I need to hide in Cangwu?"

Wei Zhong rubbed his head and smiled, then heard Lin Qingyuan reply:

"I estimate it's about the same as the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. It's fine for short-term entanglement, but not for prolonged battles."

"After all, my cultivation level is limited, and my magical power is insufficient to support it."

Wei Zhong looked thoughtful:

Is the title "【Qingfeng Swordsman】more like a title that enhances one's swordsmanship and slightly increases combat power?

"It cannot completely break free from the constraints of its Qi cultivation..."

Lin Qingyuan shook his head at this moment:

"That's inappropriate. It's not that my cultivation level is not commensurate with the title, but rather that I am not commensurate with the title."

"If Qi cultivation works, why can't body refinement?"

"Or perhaps I'm not even human, but a demon, possessing a powerful physical body, which would allow me to fully utilize the abilities of this [title]."

"That makes sense..."

The two discussed the "title" for a long time. Lin Qingyuan had done a lot of research, which gave Wei Zhong a sense of sudden enlightenment.

"Master's [Qingfeng Swordsman] title can increase combat power, but the increase is limited, and it is probably a mid-to-low level title."

"If he were to rise to a higher position, he shouldn't be called 'Gentle Breeze Swordsman,' but rather 'Gentle Breeze Sword Immortal.'"

A difference of just one word can be as vast as the difference between heaven and earth.

Swordsmen can be called ordinary swordsmen, but sword immortals are different; only immortals can hold this title.

"If my master is called this, what will my title of 'Wall Breaker' be?"

"I have already witnessed the ability to obtain eternal proof with a single certificate; it is undoubtedly a divine skill. This alone is probably enough to crush most of the titled cultivators in this world in terms of cultivation."

"However, the combat power is somewhat vague. Break through the barrier, break through the barrier, break through all barriers, whether physical or illusory, real or abstract."

"I've seen techniques for breaking formations and talismans, but they're all within the first tier. How about against a second-tier formation? Will I become powerless against even high-grade or mid-grade second-tier formations?"

"Or is it that my title of 'Breaker' is high enough that I can completely ignore such a huge difference in realms?"

"Besides breaking through such defensive runes and formations, what are the other aspects of combat power enhancement, and in what form does it manifest?"

"..."

Wei Zhong was lost in thought, and even felt a headache coming on.

After parting ways with Lin Qingyuan, the latter did not immediately begin teaching Wei Zhong the true Qingfeng Sword Technique. Instead, he intended to carefully consider how to teach him.

After all, this so-called "gentle breeze and divine charm" is too abstract to be expressed in the form of real cultivation techniques and methods.

Upon returning to Qingya Mountain, Wei Zhong immediately sought out Yang Chupei:

"Senior sister, is there any record of Patriarch Chen within the sect, or even jade slips or other artifacts left behind by him...?"

"These are the relics of the founder, what does Junior Brother need them for?"

Yang Chupei's mind raced:

"Junior brother, are you perhaps interested in that [ageless body]?"

Wei Zhong was frank:

"Indeed, after all, it is a title bestowed by heaven and earth..."

Yang Chupei smiled upon hearing this:

"What's there to care about? The patriarch only lived for twenty more years because of this title. If he had focused on cultivating the 'Green Cliff Health Preservation Technique,' he wouldn't have been much worse off."

Despite these words, Yang Chupei still led Wei Zhong into the back hall of the mountain gate.

Neither of them lingered in the outer treasure vaults or even the Transmission Pavilion, but headed straight for the deep secret place where the spiritual spring was located.

"That jade slip has been thoroughly searched by the successive leaders and elders of my Qingya Sect, but they have not been able to gain any benefit from it."

"However, since it was left by the founder, it was hidden quite well."

The two passed through the cave and arrived at the sacred spring.

Yang Chupei called out to Wei Zhong:

"Wait here, I'll go down and get it."

After saying that, he leaped down towards the spiritual spring. Wei Zhong took a step forward and looked into the spring, where Yang Chupei's figure quickly disappeared.

"Looks like they've been hiding it quite well!"

After waiting outside the Lingquan Spring for a while, Yang Chupei finally returned.

He was dressed in a green robe and his body was covered in water. A few spots of his rosy skin caught Wei Zhong's eye, which was a feast for his eyes.

Unfortunately, before Wei Zhong could take a second look, the latter had already activated his magic to dispel the water vapor from his body.

He reached out and handed over the jade slip:

"Junior Brother Wei, you can just keep it here in the cave and return it to me later."

After saying that, he walked directly to the spiritual spring and began to meditate and cultivate.

The spiritual energy here is abundant, enough to support the later stages of Qi Refining cultivation.

Previously, these were exclusively used by Yang Jingting and his senior brother Wu Ang. Now that Master Yang is no longer around, they are being used in rotation by the various disciples.

Wei Zhong also sat down cross-legged, focusing all his attention on the jade slip in his hand.

The jade slip was waxy white and looked no different from an ordinary jade slip.

Placed on his forehead, the information within instantly entered Wei Zhong's mind:

"I am Chen Yangzhuo, a native of Nanping, Cangwu..."

"He entered the path of cultivation at the age of thirty, with average aptitude. He broke through to the middle stage of Qi Refining at the age of forty, and was stuck in the late stage bottleneck at the age of sixty."

"Traveling through hundreds of rivers, seeking a way to break through, I accidentally entered a secret realm of inheritance and obtained the method 'Withered Tree Rejuvenates Technique'."

"This method can extend the lifespan of a Qi Refining cultivator by ten years, but it has great drawbacks."

"When one is about to prolong life, one is like a withered tree. One will store one's magical power deep in one's bone marrow and internal organs to reduce consumption and strengthen one's physical body from within."

"In this state, cultivators cannot use spells, nor can they use weapons to fight enemies, and they cannot even do strenuous activities like jumping, running, leaping, etc., like ordinary people."

"In my opinion, this method is inferior and should not be called 'The Spring Comeback Technique of Dry Wood'. It would be more appropriate to call it 'The Dry Wood Technique'."

"Three years later, I obtained the 'Earth Vein Nourishing Qi Method' from a herbalist, which also has the effect of prolonging life."

"But what surprised me even more was its ability to heal its injuries and strengthen its physique by using the energy of the earth's veins."

"After studying several longevity techniques, I discovered that all of them revolved around the key concept of 'strengthening the body'."

"So I searched for hundreds of methods and selected the one that would not harm the body but only nourish it, supplemented by methods to prolong life, and went through countless hardships."

"The prototype of the Health Preservation Exercise was obtained."

"However, after trying to cultivate it, I found that this method was inferior, even less effective than the 'Rejuvenating Tree Technique'. The only commendable aspect was its decent body-strengthening effect, while also preserving the cultivator's magical power."

"It can barely be considered a step in the cultivation of both body and Dharma."

"I was not satisfied, so I studied diligently for decades and have now reached the age of one hundred."

"Due to his injuries, his lifespan was nearing its end. In his despair, he suddenly heard a heavenly voice..."