The Confucian and Taoist Sages of Mortal Cultivation

Immediately afterwards, Lei Wanhe introduced the third jade slip, saying, "This is my natal cultivation technique, called the 'Heavenly Will Five Thunder Technique'."

"This cultivation technique can also be cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage, and it only requires a lightning spiritual root to cultivate."

"The accompanying magic weapon is called the 'Mysterious Lightning Piercing Cloud Sword,' which also has some of the style of a sword cultivator."

"And what's most impressive is that this technique can cultivate five different types of divine lightning, each with its own unique effect, making it incredibly unpredictable."

"With these five types of divine thunder, one can unleash the divine power 'Thunder God's Wrath,' bringing out the full power of thunder magic, and even allowing the cultivator to defeat a cultivator of a higher realm."

"If you can choose this 'Heavenly Will Five Thunder Technique', you can be considered my true successor, inheriting my lineage."

"If you encounter anything you don't understand while practicing this technique, your master can also give you some pointers."

Hearing that each of these three top-tier cultivation techniques had its merits, Nie Ying, who was standing nearby, was extremely envious of Yang Qingyuan's talent.

"So?" Lei Wanhe chuckled. "Have you made up your mind?"

Yang Qingyuan pondered for a moment, then bowed and said, "This disciple desires the 'Divine Sword Thunder Control True Scripture'."

Upon hearing this, Lei Wanhe frowned slightly, and finally asked cautiously, "Are you sure?"

"Although you have a lightning spiritual root, you do not have any special physique related to swordsmanship, and cultivating this method requires the assistance of a large number of spiritual treasures from heaven and earth."

Yang Qingyuan did not reconsider and replied, "This disciple would like to try this technique."

"Very well." Lei Wanhe then made a copy of the jade slip and handed it to Yang Qingyuan. He then looked at Nie Ying beside him and asked, "What about you? Do you also want to choose a top-tier cultivation technique?"

Nie Ying hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke up, "Elder, you are so insightful. This disciple also wishes to choose a top-tier cultivation technique."

"They're all so arrogant..." Lei Wanhe shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this, but still took out a blue jade slip from the bookshelf and introduced it, "This book, 'Mysterious Maiden's Calamity-Crossing Technique,' is suitable for female cultivators. It has twelve levels and leads directly to the Nascent Soul stage. However, to cultivate this technique, one needs to attract Yin energy such as moonlight into the body. If there is an excess of Yin energy, one may suffer from qi deviation at best, and die at worst."

"You need to be prepared. Either change your cultivation method or choose a suitable husband as soon as possible to achieve yin and yang harmony."

Nie Ying was shocked when she heard about the side effects of this technique, but she gritted her teeth and accepted the jade slip.

Yang Qingyuan stared longingly at Lei Wanhe.

"Don't worry, your master won't forget." Lei Wanhe took out a yellowed booklet from his sleeve, handed it to Yang Qingyuan, and introduced it, "This is the Confucian and Taoist Divine Sense Cultivation Technique that your master helped you obtain."

"I spent a lot of effort to make this cultivation technique available."

Upon hearing this, Yang Qingyuan couldn't help but feel more favorably disposed toward this cheap master. He then took the booklet with both hands and saw the five large characters "External King and Inner Saint Secret" written on the cover.

But after flipping through it a few times, Yang Qingyuan was stunned to find that the booklet was incomplete, with the back pages torn out.

Seeing this, Lei Wanhe coughed twice and explained, "This 'Inner Saint Technique' originally had seven levels, but that person actually made an outrageous demand, only accepting a thousand-year-old spiritual medicine in exchange for the complete technique."

"I had no choice but to exchange five spiritual herbs from the Crimson Forbidden Land for the first four levels."

"But even the first four levels aren't something everyone can cultivate."

"I have tried these past few days, but I still cannot get the hang of it."

"After all, to master the first level of the technique, one needs to possess a strong sense of righteousness."

"But don't worry, if there's an opportunity in the future, I will personally help you acquire the remaining three levels of the cultivation technique."

Hearing this, Yang Qingyuan had no choice but to ask, "May I ask, Master, what sect or school does this Core Formation cultivator who possesses the 'Inner Saint Technique' belong to?"

Lei Wanhe shook his head and explained, "This person is not a Core Formation cultivator from one of the seven major sects, but the patriarch of the Yan family from Yan Family Fortress."

"What?!" Yang Qingyuan was also inwardly disgusted when he heard that it was this person. He remembered that it wouldn't be long before the Yan family would join the Ghost Spirit Sect and leave the Yue Kingdom to move to the territory of the Six Demonic Sects.

"It seems we won't be able to obtain the techniques for the last three levels for the time being."

Yang Qingyuan had no choice but to put away the two cultivation techniques and said to Lei Wanhe, "Thank you for bestowing these methods upon me, Master. I will now take my leave and go into seclusion to attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

Lei Wanhe also felt a little guilty for not having produced the complete manual, and said, "How about this?"

"Next to the library is a secluded meditation room."

"Your teacher grants you permission to use it for six months."

"The concentration of spiritual energy in Leiyin Cave is more than three times stronger than that in the nooks and crannies of Yuelu Palace."

Upon hearing this, Yang Qingyuan agreed.

Lei Wanhe opened the stone door on one side of the library by making a hand seal with one hand.

Yang Qingyuan bowed respectfully and walked toward the secluded meditation room, closing the stone door behind him.

Lei Wanhe then looked at Nie Ying and pondered, "Nie Ying, what do you think of my disciple, Yang Qingyuan?"

Completely bewildered by the sudden question, Nie Ying replied, "This..."

"Junior Brother Yang has a lightning spiritual root, outstanding talent, and a dignified appearance."

"I heard that Junior Brother Yang also participated in the Blood Trial, which shows his extraordinary courage."

"But why is the elder asking this?"

Lei Wanhe squinted and smiled, "You're not getting any younger, it's time to choose a Daoist partner."

"Moreover, if you suffer from qi deviation and excessive yin energy while practicing the Mysterious Maiden Skill, you can overcome the difficulties by using the method of yin-yang balance."

"I promised your Nie family patriarch that I would take care of your Nie family. If you can become my disciple's Daoist partner, it will be a double blessing."

"If I were to die unexpectedly one day and meet your ancestor in the afterlife, I would have no regrets."

When Nie Ying heard Lei Wanhe suddenly say he wanted to play matchmaker for her, she blushed and couldn't accept it. She stammered, "This... I don't plan to consider the matter of a Daoist partner before I reach the Foundation Establishment stage."

"Very well." Lei Wanhe did not object, but simply replied, "With your aptitudes, reaching Foundation Establishment should be a sure thing."

"In that case, let's wait until you've reached the Foundation Establishment stage before discussing this further."

"Then you can step back now and focus on preparing to break through this bottleneck."

Upon hearing this, Nie Ying quickly bowed and hurriedly left the library.

Meanwhile, Yang Qingyuan was reviewing the contents of the "Divine Sword Thunder Control Manual".

This cultivation method has thirteen levels in total: three levels of Qi Refining, three levels of Foundation Establishment, three levels of Core Formation, three levels of Nascent Soul, and one level of Deity Transformation.

The first three levels come with a divine ability called "Thunderclap with a Flick of the Finger," which allows Yang Qingyuan to instantly unleash a lightning-attribute sword beam with the flick of his finger, with power stronger than ordinary high-grade magic weapons.

The Foundation Establishment stage has three accompanying spells: Sword Locking the Rivers and Mountains, Greatsword Technique, and Thunder Sword Shield.

Upon reaching the Core Formation stage, there are even more spells available, such as the Splitting Light and Shadow Sword Technique and the Thunder Escape Technique, and a matching magic weapon called the "Divine Thunder Demon-Slaying Sword" also appears.

Yang Qingyuan was slightly surprised when he saw the introduction of the Divine Thunder Demon-Slaying Sword, because this sword must be forged with rare and precious materials containing the attribute of thunder, and it must be made in sets of twelve, thirty-six, seventy-two, and eighty-one swords.

"It does resemble Han Li's Green Bamboo Bee Cloud Sword somewhat."

Yang Qingyuan continued to peruse the book with great interest, and discovered that the third level of the Nascent Soul stage contained records of advanced sword control techniques that could transform swords into threads, as well as some advanced lightning-attribute sword formations.

These are things he cannot comprehend at this point.

Yang Qingyuan simply put the "Divine Sword Thunder Control Manual" aside and picked up the "Inner Saint Technique" to read.