The hardest to kill within the same realm was still just difficult to kill, not unkillable.
Putting down the bamboo slip, he picked up several others.
Ten Thousand Rivers Return to the Abyss Technique, Primordial Skill...
’Oh? This Cultivation Technique seems perfect for me.’
Lin Yan paused when he picked up the fifth bamboo slip.
Cultivation Technique: Eight Desolates Dragon Elephant Force
Description: Refine the Qi Blood throughout the body into Dragon Elephant Power. Each transformation grants the might of an additional dragon and elephant. This Cultivation Technique has extremely high requirements for one’s Qi Blood foundation. Choose with caution!
Redemption Cost: 5,000 Contribution Points.
’Same as always, "choose with caution" was a serious warning.’
Most importantly, Lin Yan was confident in his Qi Blood. He had reached Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Perfection. If that didn’t count as a deep Qi Blood foundation, he didn’t know what would.
Having chosen his Cultivation Technique, Lin Yan walked toward the other two bookshelves.
Cultivation Technique: Great Sun Heaven-Burning Palm
Description: Use blood as fuel and qi as flame. At the Great Success level, one can condense Flame Gang, capable of burning metal and melting stone. One must first master Heaven-Burning Palm to cultivate this technique.
Redemption Cost: 2,000 Contribution Points.
Reading the description on the bamboo slip, Lin Yan recalled seeing the Heaven-Burning Palm on the second floor. It seemed that some of the techniques on the third floor were advanced versions of those on the second.
Four Extremes Mountain-Suppressing Technique
Description: Condense Qi Blood into four directional cauldrons, with one cauldron suppressing one cardinal point. Each transformation breakthrough allows the condensation of an additional cauldron. When all four cauldrons emerge, they seal the four directions. Martial Artists of the same realm trapped within will feel as if they are in a quagmire, finding every step a struggle as their Qi Blood flows in reverse. Extremely difficult to master. Choose with caution.
Redemption Cost: 2,000 Contribution Points.
After looking through them all, Lin Yan had only one impression: they were all amazing.
Burning Hundred Spears, Chasing Moon Nine Slashes...
’Unfortunately... they’re too expensive.’
He only had a little over three thousand Contribution Points and needed to save some to redeem for other Martial Arts Resources.
It was obvious that the resources needed for Cultivation after reaching the Blood Exchange Realm would be far more expensive. And while the clan would provide some support, it would likely only be the bare minimum.
’Oh? What about this Cultivation Technique?’
He picked up another bamboo slip, and his eyes lit up as he finished reading it.
Cultivation Technique: Four-Phase Condensing Gang Sword
Description: Fuse Sword Intent into Blood Gang to condense a "Sword Gang" that is far beyond ordinary, possessing astonishing power. Requires mastery of at least one Great Success Level Sword Intent. The more Sword Intents fused, the greater its power.
Redemption Cost: 2,000 Contribution Points.
’This Cultivation Technique is practically tailor-made for me. This is the one!’
This time, Lin Yan didn’t hesitate in the slightest. He had decided on the Four-Phase Condensing Gang Sword.
「First Floor.」
Lin Qinghe stared at the two bamboo slips Lin Yan brought down, wondering for a moment if his eyes were playing tricks on him.
’Dragon Elephant Force and Four-Phase Condensing Gang Sword... Are these techniques a clansman who just entered the Blood Exchange Realm should be choosing?’
The former, the Dragon Elephant Force, was somewhat understandable. As long as one’s Qi Blood was more than halfway through the Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing stage, it was possible to cultivate it. Since Lin Yan had stayed in the training area for a month before his breakthrough, his Qi Blood was surely past that mark. But the most basic requirement for the Four-Phase Condensing Gang Sword was a Sword Skill Realm at the Great Success level.
’A twenty-year-old from a branch family with a Sword Skill Realm at the Great Success level?’
"Are you sure about these?"
"Yes, I’m sure."
Lin Yan nodded with a determined expression. Lin Qinghe said no more and pulled two manuals from the counter.
"The rules are the same. Return them once you’ve learned the techniques."
Watching Lin Yan leave with the manuals, Lin Qinghe shook his head slightly. He had seen many sword geniuses in the clan, but Sword Cultivators tended to have weaker Qi Blood reserves. Someone who cultivated both the Dragon Elephant Force and the way of the sword was a true rarity.
’If that kid actually pulls this off, the Third Branch will have another genius on their hands.’
After leaving the Hidden Technique Pavilion, Lin Yan planned to head back to his courtyard in the Disciple’s Quarters.
The reason was simple. He had been in the stone chamber for over a month. Even though the chamber’s cold air had kept the smell from getting too strong, a month without bathing, on top of all the impurities his body had expelled, made him feel sticky all over now that he was back above ground.
’I’ll head back and wash up first, then go to the Third Branch to see Brother Hai.’
"Lin Yan?"
At the entrance to the Disciple’s Quarters, Lin Yu was walking and chatting with several Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists from his branch. He froze when he saw Lin Yan, then quickly walked over, his eyes scanning Lin Yan from head to toe.
"Do I look different?" Lin Yan asked, confused.
He possessed the Swallowing Technique, so unless he revealed it himself, his Realm shouldn’t be discernible from his outward appearance.
"I can’t believe it. You actually broke through to the Blood Exchange Realm."
Lin Yu said quietly, his voice a mixture of excitement, melancholy, and frustration.
Hearing that Lin Yu could somehow see his Realm, Lin Yan’s expression turned serious. "How can you tell?"
"Tell my ass! I went looking for you a little while ago and saw you weren’t in your courtyard. After asking around, I found out you’d gone to the Hidden Technique Pavilion. Did you think I wouldn’t be able to guess what you were up to?"
Lin Yu cursed, as if that was the only way to vent his frustration.
He wasn’t exactly jealous that Lin Yan had broken through to the Blood Exchange Realm, but he was certainly frustrated. He had said that Lin Yan had a chance to surpass Lin Yu, but he was just saying that for the sake of it!
’I hoped you would be able to surpass Lin Yu, but I never really thought you would actually do it!’
"If you had failed to break through, no matter how optimistic you are, you wouldn’t be able to hide your disappointment completely. So, that can only mean you succeeded."
Hearing Lin Yu’s explanation, Lin Yan broke into a smile. The guy’s reasoning was sound.
At this point, the other Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists who had heard Lin Yu’s words were also staring intently at Lin Yan, awaiting his confirmation. The emotions in their eyes were just as complex.
Lin Yan nodded. "Yes. I was lucky and managed to break through."
The moment he finished speaking, the expressions of the other Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists all shifted into a uniform, forced smile.

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