Chapter 236: Decision

After spending a day in the cave dwelling, the next day Han Li stood before Li Huayuan and his wife again, listening as his master calmly said:

“Han Li, have you decided what you want me to give you? You can tell me now!”

“Disciple desires a cultivation technique suitable for myself. I hope master can fulfill this request.” Han Li had long had his answer in mind, so he blurted it out without hesitation.

Upon hearing this, Li Huayuan showed no surprise. Instead, he smiled faintly at the young woman beside him, as if to say, ‘See? Didn’t I tell you? It’s a cultivation technique after all!’

Then he turned back to Han Li and said calmly:

“Hmm, that’s a good choice. Come closer, let me check your spiritual root attributes, and then I’ll decide which cultivation method to bestow upon you.”

Han Li dared not hesitate. He immediately stepped forward and felt his wrist grasped by the master. A warm current quickly flowed through his meridians.

“You can cultivate techniques of all attributes except metal! To think you have four-attribute spiritual roots—this truly surprises me! That day, I only saw that your spiritual roots were mixed from your appearance, but I never imagined they would be to this extent!” After a moment of examination, Li Huayuan’s expression turned slightly peculiar as he sighed softly.

The young woman, listening nearby, also showed a hint of surprise. Though she didn't speak, she couldn't help but glance at Han Li several more times.

“My aptitude is poor, I’ve disappointed master!” Han Li’s face flushed slightly as he said, somewhat ashamed.

“That’s alright. Since Heaven allowed you to successfully establish your foundation, you must have your own fortuitous encounters. However, this makes choosing a cultivation technique a bit troublesome.”

“What do you mean?”

Upon hearing this, Han Li blinked. Although he didn’t ask directly, the confusion on his face was undeniable.

“Really, you should explain things properly to your disciple. You’re always so vague! Actually, your master means he originally wanted to pick a good cultivation technique for you, but now that he sees your spiritual root attributes, he’s a bit hesitant! After all, the better the technique, the harder it is to cultivate. It might be better to give you a simpler method that allows you to advance faster!” the young woman chided Li Huayuan, then gently explained to Han Li.

“Indeed, my wife has said exactly what I intended,” Li Huayuan nodded repeatedly. He then proceeded to explain in detail:

“You must understand that the cultivation techniques we cultivators practice can generally be divided into three categories based on their power and effects. The first category consists of techniques where spiritual power progresses slowly, or even slightly below average, after cultivation. However, the divine abilities and methods for defeating enemies associated with them are often incredibly powerful and extraordinary. In actual combat, they are like water to fish, allowing cultivators to overcome higher-level cultivators even with low-level spiritual power. Therefore, most cultivators who know they have no hope of forming a Golden Core in this life choose this type of technique.”

“The second category is the exact opposite. These methods are remarkably effective at advancing spiritual power, easy to learn and practice, and cultivators who choose them face far fewer bottlenecks than those who choose the first category. However, there’s a trade-off: the advantages of the first type of technique are precisely the fatal flaws of this category. These techniques generally lack powerful self-preservation abilities, and their divine abilities are meager! Essentially, choosing this type of method determines one's future cultivation path, relegating them to being weaker among cultivators of the same rank. Nevertheless, many who aspire to higher levels of cultivation and dream of reaching the Dao of Heaven also choose these methods, as they are the easiest for cultivators to approach the Golden Core stage.”

At this point, Li Huayuan paused, then suddenly smiled at Han Li and said:

“I wonder, disciple, which type of method will you choose, or rather, which type do you think suits you best?”

Han Li froze for a moment upon hearing this. He hesitated, then asked:

“Master, aren’t there three categories? Why have you only mentioned two?”

Li Huayuan smiled knowingly with the young woman after hearing Han Li’s question, then kindly addressed Han Li:

“Indeed, besides the first two categories, there exists a very rare third category of cultivation techniques. These are the top-tier cultivation methods sought after by many cultivators. However, I do not recommend you cultivate them! None of your seven senior brothers have chosen this type of technique either! Although they combine the advantages of the first two categories—immense power and astonishing spiritual power advancement—cultivating them not only comes with numerous restrictions and immense difficulty but also involves extreme danger in the process. One careless mistake can lead to eternal damnation! Your mistress cultivates a top-tier technique, and despite her caution, she almost died. So, for cultivators whose aptitude isn't far superior to others, cultivating them is almost equivalent to suicide!”

“Although I possess two or three top-tier techniques, if you believe you can successfully cultivate them—because this technique is compensation for you—and if you insist on choosing a top-tier technique, I will give it to you. However, if any dangers or difficulties arise in the future, you will have to resolve them yourself!”

Li Huayuan clearly disapproved of Han Li choosing the last type of method, so he warned Han Li in advance.

Han Li furrowed his brows and pondered deeply. This was indeed a difficult choice.

Soon after, Han Li looked up, his eyes calm, evidently having made his decision.

“Master, please forgive my impudence! Before I state my request, may I ask which cultivation technique you practice?” Han Li suddenly asked.

“Haha! I cultivate the top-tier technique, the True Yang Art. However, I possess the Three Yang Physique, which is second only to the Heavenly Spiritual Root, so cultivating this technique is like water to a fish for me, far superior to other techniques! Otherwise, how could I have formed a Golden Core?” Although Li Huayuan hadn't expected Han Li to ask this, he still said it with pride.

“Disciple understands. Then I will choose a method from the second category!” Han Li said with a calm expression.

“The second category?”

Li Huayuan’s expression subtly changed, but he quickly returned to his normal demeanor, re-examining Han Li with a thought-provoking gaze. The young woman beside him also showed a look of considerable interest upon hearing this.

“You choose the second category? What can I say? I am very pleased that your heart for cultivation is so resolute. However, you must know that what is called ‘easy to cultivate and practice’ for spiritual power only applies to those with good aptitude. Even among those with outstanding aptitude, only a small minority can cultivate a second-category technique to the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage. Therefore, I still lean towards you choosing a first-category technique. While the hope of forming a Golden Core would be slim, at least it would allow you to hold your head high among Foundation Establishment cultivators and not be bullied. In truth, no matter which technique one cultivates, how many can truly form a Golden Core? Back then…”

Li Huayuan had originally intended to persuade Han Li, but as he spoke, he seemed to recall something from the past, his mood suddenly grew heavy, and he gradually fell silent.

Seeing this, the young woman beside him sighed softly and then continued, speaking to Han Li:

“Han Li, have you thought this through? Are you truly set on choosing this type of technique? Although your choice isn't entirely what your master and I had in mind, if your heart for cultivation is truly so firm, your master naturally won't object. If you were to overestimate yourself and insist on choosing a top-tier technique, your master and I would agree, but it would deeply disappoint us. After all, that wouldn't be a matter of firm resolve in cultivation, but rather of being overly ambitious.”

“Indeed, your mistress has spoken my thoughts. I will say no more. I will only ask you one more time: Are you truly decided?” Li Huayuan, having recovered his composure, nodded in agreement as he heard the young woman’s words.

“Yes, disciple’s mind is made up!” Han Li said in a deep voice after quietly listening to Li Huayuan and his wife.

“Good, since you’ve truly made up your mind, follow me to the library. Madam, please wait here for a moment; Han Li and I will be back shortly.” Seeing this, Li Huayuan said nothing more. He rose to take Han Li out, leaving the young woman to wait.

The library was not far from the main hall. It wasn't very large, just a low, ordinary stone chamber. However, the entire room was protected by a fiery red barrier, making it impossible for outsiders to enter.

Li Huayuan walked up to the barrier and casually swiped a finger across it. The barrier immediately opened a wide gap, about ten feet across, just wide enough for the two of them to pass side-by-side.

He then easily pushed open the stone door and led Han Li into the chamber.

Upon entering, Han Li's eyes widened. Inside the stone chamber, various jade slips, pages, boxes, and books all floated in the air, emitting colorful, wondrous light. There were at least fifty or sixty such items; these were the cultivation techniques Li Huayuan had collected over hundreds of years through various means.

“Every item here has been enchanted by me,” Li Huayuan explained to Han Li with a hint of pride. “If it’s not picked up by my wife or me personally, it will immediately trigger the formation within the stone chamber, trapping and killing any intruder here.” Han Li, however, detected a warning in his words and nodded repeatedly to indicate he understood.