Casting immortality in the furnace

Chapter 23 "The Two Elements and Four Phases Sword"

"Fan Zhou, Liu Ergou, you two come here."

Huang Yi returned to the foot of the mountain and called the two of them to her side.

"Fan Zhou, now that you have fully mastered the Nine Styles of Sword, I will teach you another set of sword techniques."

Huang Yi took out a yellowed book from her storage bag and handed it to Fan Zhou.

"This sword technique is called the 'Sword of Both Hardness and Softness'. It has sixty-four variations and can train muscles and bones externally and strengthen internal energy. It is perfect for a beginner like you."

Fan Zhou respectfully accepted the sword manual, saying, "Thank you, Master Huang, for bestowing this teaching."

Huang Yi said, "Go to the side and study it first. I will explain it to you later."

"Yes."

Fan Zhou stepped aside and began to peruse the book "The Sword of Both Strength and Softness" in his hand.

Huang Yi then looked at Liu Ergou and said:

"Ergou, your Nine Styles Sword is not yet fully mastered. You still need to work hard and practice diligently."

"I understand, Teacher Huang," Liu Ergou nodded in agreement.

Huang Yi was worried that Liu Ergou wouldn't take it seriously, so she warned him:

"The Nine Forms Sword was created by the third generation of our Taoist patriarchs. What you are practicing now is only the basic version. There is a more profound sword technique called the Nine Absolute Sword. Only after mastering the Nine Forms Sword can you learn it. You must practice diligently and not slack off."

"Don't worry, Master Huang, I will definitely practice diligently," Liu Ergou said, bowing.

After he finished speaking, he walked to the side and began practicing the Nine Forms of Sword, each move executed with utmost focus.

Fan Zhou then asked curiously:

"Master Huang, since there's more to the Nine Absolute Swords manual, why don't you teach it to me?"

"Because the Nine Absolute Sword is more than ten times more profound than the Nine Styles Sword! When this sword technique is mastered to perfection, not only can one cultivate nine different kinds of energy, but one also has the opportunity to achieve 'Sword Power,' which is far beyond what you can currently achieve," Huang Yi explained.

Hearing him say that, Fan Zhou stopped asking questions.

He looked at the sword manual in his hand, and several lines of small red characters appeared before his eyes:

"The Sword of Dual Strength and Softness": Created by Daoist Mingkong, it is the foundational sword technique of the Yin-Yang School. Upon reaching its perfect level, one's bones and muscles become resilient, allowing one to cultivate both "strength" and "softness" energies.

There are two ways to forge it:

1——"The Ever-Changing Sword Technique of Hardness and Softness"

2 — The Two Elements and Four Phases Sword

Fan Zhou's heart skipped a beat; the names sounded quite impressive.

He focused his attention on the "Hundred Transformations of Hardness and Softness Sword Technique," and suddenly a few lines of small characters appeared before his eyes:

The "Hundred Transformations of Hard and Soft Sword Technique" has 128 variations! When mastered to perfection, it can achieve "Hard and Soft Sword Qi".

Forging materials: a steel sword, and 180 days' worth of stored essence blood.

Forging time: 180 days (starting after forging materials are stockpiled)

Should we begin forging?

"A year? Let's see."

Fan Zhou then focused his attention on the "Two Elements and Four Phases Sword".

The Two Elements and Four Phases Sword: Combining strength and gentleness, cold and heat! When practiced to perfection, one can achieve the four transformations of Qi: strength, gentleness, cold, and heat.

Forging materials: a steel sword, and 120 days of stored essence blood.

Forging time: 120 days (starting after forging materials are stockpiled)

Should we begin forging?

"This will only take 240 days, which is seven months."

Fan Zhou actually preferred the "Two Elements and Four Phases Sword".

Firstly, because it takes a short time, and secondly, because it can cultivate four types of Qi transformations.

As for the "Hundred Changes of Hard and Soft Sword Technique", it takes too long, and the number of sword paths has doubled, with 128 variations.

That's too many!

When he demonstrates his skills and people ask him where he learned them, he won't be able to answer. How could someone who has only read two sword manuals create so many sword techniques?

But Fan Zhou didn't rush to make a decision.

He focused his mind on the Heavenly Crafting Furnace, and a piece of information instantly appeared before his eyes:

"The Ten Styles Sword can be forged further!"

There are two forging methods:

1—The Ten Deadly Swords

2 — "Ten-Fold Sword"

"The Ten-Style Sword can actually be forged a second time!"

Fan Zhou was overjoyed, as this situation indicated that he might be able to upgrade a cultivation technique to an extremely high level.

It might even be able to upgrade indefinitely!

"But that might not be worthwhile; perhaps learning a more advanced technique would be better."

Fan Zhou suppressed his thoughts and began to examine the two forging methods:

"The Ten Ultimate Swords": Derived from ten sword styles, reaching perfection allows one to develop ten types of qi and one type of sword stance.

Forging material: A good sword is made from the essence of twenty years of accumulated blood and energy.

Forging time: Twenty years (starting after the forging materials are stockpiled)

Should we begin forging?

Forty years!

Fan Zhou was dumbfounded. What kind of sword technique was this that took so long?

Is it because it allows one to master ten different types of qi and sword techniques?

Huang Yi had told him that sword energy could draw upon the energy of heaven and earth, a technique that only cultivators who had mastered Qi cultivation could control.

"This Ten Absolute Swords technique should be similar to the Nine Absolute Swords technique; no wonder Master Huang isn't teaching it to us anymore."

"This swordsmanship is too advanced for me."

Fan Zhou decisively gave up and looked at the second one.

"Ten-Layer Sword Technique: Derived from ten sword styles, when mastered to perfection, it can stack nine layers of power and sword energy, unleashing astonishing power once unleashed."

Forging materials: an iron sword, five years' worth of stored essence.

Forging time: Five years (starting after the forging materials are stockpiled)

Should we begin forging?

"Ten years... let's just forget about it."

After this comparison, Fan Zhou finally determined his direction.

Forge the "Two Elements and Four Phases Sword"!

"The total forging time is seven months, but with the help of a Blood Chicken or Blood Centipede, I can shorten it to within six months!"

"As for the Ten Absolute Swords or the Ten Stacked Swords, let's talk about that later."

"Perhaps when I reach a higher level in the future, I can save a lot of time when I come back to practice these techniques."

As Fan Zhou made his decision, a line of small, burning text appeared before his eyes:

[The "Two Elements and Four Phases Sword" is already in the furnace!]

"..."

Fan Zhou withdrew his attention and focused on the sword manual in his hand, studying the flow of qi, the changes in sword moves, and the coordination of his body.

Perhaps due to his experience with the ten sword techniques at the perfect level, Fan Zhou was able to understand the "Sword of Both Hardness and Softness" without much difficulty.

"This sword technique also cultivates both internal and external strength, but it is only suitable for the initial stages of Qi gathering, tendon strengthening, and bone tempering. It becomes less effective at higher levels."

Fan Zhou glanced at the sword technique and got a general idea of ​​it, so he picked up the wooden sword and began to practice.

Huang Yi explained the key points of each move to him, corrected his mistakes, and adjusted his power exertion posture, while also giving Liu Ergou pointers.

Days passed by like this.

Since he didn't have to go to work, Fan Zhou spent all his time cultivating, either comprehending the dual sword techniques of strength and gentleness or practicing the Nine Forms of Sword.

He could clearly feel that his strength was constantly improving.

The vital energy within the body becomes increasingly abundant, and the body becomes pure and vigorous due to the cleansing effect of spiritual energy.

Fan Zhou could sense that he was not far from breaking through to the second level of the Fetal Breathing Realm.

half a month later.

That morning, Huang Yi called Fan Zhou to her side.

"Fan Zhou, your Nine Sword Techniques are already perfected. It will be difficult for you to make any further breakthroughs if you continue to practice in seclusion like this."

A bad feeling rose in Fan Zhou's heart.

"so……?"

The next moment, Huang Yi grabbed him and calmly said:

"So, I'm going to take you to see blood!"