"Have you ever practiced any spells?" Yu Qing continued to ask.
Li Fan shook his head. Ever since he planted the Sword Seed, he had been nurturing and refining it, without touching spell cultivation.
His junior brother once told him that Sword Cultivation has the strongest offensive power, and there's no need to practice spells. With a sharp enough sword, a single slash could break through thousands of spells.
Of course, his senior sister said not to take his junior brother's words too seriously. The junior brother was obsessed with Sword Dao, and Li Fan found it reasonable. After all, the junior brother was a genius in Sword Dao, he was far behind.
The junior brother dared to say that a single sword could break through all spells; Li Fan was unsure he could reach that level.
"I witnessed your fight with the young monk from Jingang Temple that day. To wield multiple swords simultaneously, your 'Spirit' must be strong. Sword Cultivators have much more power than ordinary spells," Liu He said on the side.
Li Fan's battle with the monk of Jingang Temple, he witnessed it.
Cultivators in the Refining Realm can control objects, and a Sword Cultivator naturally controls swords.
However, both controlling objects and swords consume 'Spirit.' The Refining God Realm is about refining 'Divine Sense.' The stronger the 'Spirit,' the stronger the ability to control objects. For Li Fan to wield multiple swords at the same time, his 'Spirit' was naturally strong.
It could be that Sword Cultivator techniques are inherently unique, yet it also shows Li Fan has an absolutely strong talent, and if he practiced other spells, he would be very powerful.
"Do you also practice martial arts? Have you practiced any cultivation techniques?" Yu Qing asked again.
Li Fan shook his head again. His martial cultivation was quite unique, and he had never deliberately practiced martial cultivation.
"I'll give you a set of cultivation techniques, left by my father back in the day. Though the offensive power of Sword Cultivation is strong, its weakness is defense. If you practice martial arts, a strong physique can compensate for this flaw, it's worth a try," Yu Qing said.
Sword Cultivation focuses on offense; his junior brother claimed the best defense is offense, but if one can practice both, that would be even better.
Yu Qing took out a Jade Scroll from his body, handed it to Li Fan, and said, "The cultivation technique is engraved in this Jade Scroll, named Jiao Long Demon Bone Technique. If practiced successfully, it can forge the bones of a Jiao Long, making the physique strong, containing attack methods like Jiao Long Demon Bone Fist and Jiao Dragon Capture Technique, created by my father for my mother, suitable for human cultivation."
Li Fan was a bit surprised; why would Yu Qing, who was being held by Li Mountain, pass on cultivation techniques to him?
"Hmm?" Seeing Li Fan hadn't taken it, Yu Qing tossed it over, and Li Fan casually caught it, saying, "Thank you, Senior."
Yu Qing stared at Li Fan, knowing his confusion, but didn't explain. He smiled and continued, "Let's drink."
Raising his wine cup, Yu Qing let go of that hint of reluctance in his heart. Since everything was settled, he might as well accept it calmly. What's more, the young man before him was dashing and had a free-spirited nature, which he quite liked.
Perhaps, he thought, he was not a bad choice.
After a while of drinking, Yu Qing stood up and said, "You may rest here, if you need anything, find Liu Ji."
"Alright," Li Fan nodded. Yu Qing then turned around to leave, followed by Liu He, while Liu Ji also wanted to follow, but Yu Qing told her, "You stay."
"Yes." Although Liu Ji's eyes showed some reluctance, she still lowered her head and responded.
After the two left, Liu Ji turned to Li Fan, only to hear him say, "Sister, you can go about your own matters, don't mind me."
He naturally saw through Liu Ji's attitude.
"No problem, I'll accompany the gentleman for a few drinks," Liu Ji collected her emotions, flirtatiously smiled at Li Fan, and sat opposite him.
At this moment, another figure approached, and as Li Fan looked, it turned out to be an acquaintance.
"Greetings, sir." The newcomer was the ghostly woman they had seen the other night.
"Sister Xiu," Li Fan said with a smile.
"Upon hearing Mr. Li arrived at the manor, I came specially to visit," the ghostly woman stepped forward and then called to Liu Ji, "Miss Liu, Miss Li."
"Sit," Liu Ji said. The ghostly woman slightly bowed and sat down as well.
"You all may go rest," Liu Ji said to the serving girls nearby. They bowed slightly and left.
"How did they come to the manor?" Li Fan curiously asked.
"They are all unfortunates. Whenever demons create chaos, there will be orphans. Some are taken away and sold by traders, some drift on the streets. The Lord of the Manor is kind-hearted and will take them in when he encounters them," the ghostly woman said.
"I see," Li Fan was quite impressed with Yu Qing.
"These should have been the government's duty, but not only does the Lin'an County government office do nothing, they are even perpetrators themselves. I was forced into ruins by the government office," the ghostly woman sighed, "Now that demons are causing chaos, the government actually slanders Fulong Manor, distorting black and white."
"So what? Aren't we still imprisoned here, 'unable to see the light of day'? Wonder what's the reasoning behind all this," Liu Ji said sarcastically.
She lay sideways on the ground, one hand supporting her head, her posture soft and boneless, her graceful curves undoubtedly on display.
She raised a wine glass with her other hand and toasted Li Fan, "Sir, have a drink."
"After you, sister," Li Fan couldn't answer Liu Ji's question, so he drank quietly.
"Since sir is a disciple of Li Mountain, can you plead with them to release my master? If the gentleman has any requests, I can fulfill them," Liu Ji lay there, her gaze full of enchantment.
"I need to clarify the reason and can't make any guarantees," Li Fan said. He wasn't fully aware of the situation, nor could he change it if it was indeed Li Mountain's decision.
However, once his junior brother arrives, he can ask.
"In that case, I thank the gentleman in advance," Liu Ji toasted.
The two shared three drinks, and Li Hongyi watched from the side, seemingly being treated as invisible.
She approached, picked up a wine cup, and gently placed it on the small table, making a crisp sound as Liu Ji and Li Fan both looked at her.
Li Hongyi poured herself a drink, downed it in one go, and felt a burning sensation after drinking.
"You can drink?" Li Fan asked, "Don't force yourself if you can't."
Liu Ji let out a soft laugh on the side.
Li Hongyi glanced at Liu Ji, then said to Li Fan, "In the martial world, alcohol is merely water."
With that, she drank three cups in succession.
After wiping her mouth, she appeared quite bold.
"Are you alright?" Liu Ji toasted Li Hongyi, then poured her own drink into her mouth. Naturally, Li Hongyi wasn't one to yield, so she refilled her cup and downed it too.
The two traded drinks back and forth, making Li Fan, who watched, a mere spectator of this drinking competition between a human and a demon.
Li Fan blinked… what happened?
The atmosphere was a bit peculiar.
Soon, Li Hongyi was swaying, hiccuping, her delicate face blushing like a red cloud.
"Maybe, let's stop?" Li Fan said softly.
"Don't meddle," Li Hongyi glared at him, raised her glass to Liu Ji, and said, "Continue."
The ghostly woman watched Li Fan and Li Hongyi with a smile, truly a perfect couple.
The more Li Hongyi drank, the more dizzy she felt, her body swayed heavily, finally unable to support herself, her head tilted, and she fell to the ground.
"Continuing to drink…" Li Hongyi reached into the air, and Li Fan was speechless for a while, looking at Li Hongyi lying on the ground.
"Do you want more drinks, sir?" Liu Ji asked Li Fan.
Li Fan shook his head, and Liu Ji said, "Then let me help her to rest for you."
With that, Liu Ji got up gracefully and helped Li Hongyi up, heading towards the room.
The ghostly woman also took her leave.
In the courtyard, only Li Fan remained. He went to the side, took out the Jade Scroll from Yu Qing, and as his consciousness entered it, he instantly found himself in another scene.
Above Beihai, thunder roared, and dark clouds gathered. A figure was practicing on the sea surface, each punch and form brought forth a Jiao Long's phantom, stirring the sea to rage.
Scene after scene of divine charm imprinted into Li Fan's mind.
Li Fan immersed himself in it, feeling as if he was himself standing on the great waves of Beihai, circulating his blood energy according to the cultivation technique, activating a storm of energy and blood within his body.
While Li Fan practiced, on a high tower within Fulong Manor, Yu Qing and Liu He sat drinking, from this place they could see the scene in Li Fan's courtyard.
"Liu Ji may not understand your intention," Liu He said softly. Liu Ji was her sister.
"The Court is about to take action, I don't have much time left. Li Fan is a Li Mountain disciple; if Liu Ji follows him, there might be a sliver of hope for survival," Yu Qing sighed. Although called a master-servant relationship, he always treated Liu Ji like a sister.
"This time, it's not just about Fulong Manor; even Li Mountain struggles to protect itself. This young man…" Liu He was skeptical.
"Li Mountain has influential people, the Court won't completely annihilate it. Moreover, with a millennium of heritage, even if it falls, it won't be easy," Yu Qing said, "I just wonder why Li Mountain set up this situation through me, not sure of his position in Li Mountain."
Liu He looked towards the young man practicing in the distance.
"This Jiao Long Demon Bone Technique is not easy to cultivate, especially for human cultivators. My mother comprehended the Jiao Long's divine charm after three years; I wonder if this young Sword Cultivator can persist," Yu Qing said.
"This young man has talent in Sword Dao, the Jiao Long Demon Bone Technique might be too challenging for him," Liu He responded.
"No matter, after this matter is over, it won't be hard for him," Yu Qing said with a slight significance.
The two drank in silence, with time unconsciously passing by.
Suddenly, a faint sound of something breaking through the air came from the still night sky, like the sound of practicing fists. The two looked towards Li Fan's courtyard, and upon seeing the young man's punches, it seemed as though a Jiao Long was emerging from the sea, with a hint of the dragon's divine charm within him.
Yu Qing was startled, looking towards Li Fan with some surprise.
Suddenly, he seemed enlightened, smiled, and said, "No wonder Li Mountain chose Li Fan, his talent is not only in Sword Dao but even exceeds in martial arts."
Liu He stood up to look at Li Fan, somewhat moved.
She watched Li Fan move with rhythm and grace, with a dragon's divine presence and broken magic bones, seeming to carry dragon roars.
Liu He saw Li Fan end his practice and sit cross-legged, so she sat back down.
Yu Qing seemed in a much better mood.
As the two drank, a faint light unexpectedly appeared within Fulong Manor. Upon sensing it, Yu Qing stood up.
"What's going on?"
Fulong Manor had the Dragon Locking Array, which reacts to strong Spiritual Energy.
He frowned slightly, showing a touch of surprise, observing all around, but saw nothing unusual within the manor.
His gaze stopped on Li Fan's practicing courtyard, seeing Li Fan.
His pupils quivered, following Li Fan's body, gradually looking up to the sky, where the array reflected brilliant starlight, strands of starlight falling, like a Milky Way descending from the heavens.
The young man sat upright within it!