45: Third Life: How Am I the Villain? (Part 10)

"My cultivation base may be temporarily paused, but my combat power can continue to rise."

Xu Yuan's eyes flickered.

"Although I cultivated quite a few techniques during the Qi Condensation Stage in my previous life, most of them were common goods. Only the Blade Accumulation Move I created at the very end is worth using."

"In this life, I possess the Innate Blade Heart and Innate Blade Bone. I have a unique advantage in the path of Saber Dao, so it is time to Cultivate some powerful Sword Techniques."

Thinking of this, Xu Yuan rose to his feet and walked out of the quiet room where he had been in seclusion for many days.

As the Daozi Highness, his authority within the Sect was extremely high, so he headed straight for the important location of the Overlord Blade Sect—the Scripture Pavilion.

The Scripture Pavilion had nine levels and housed various Cultivation Techniques, Secret Manuals, spells, and records collected by the Overlord Blade Sect over hundreds of years.

The first three levels were open to Outer Sect Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples, the middle three levels required Inner Sect Disciple status to enter, and the last three levels could only be accessed by Elders at the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Of course, given Xu Yuan's current status as Daozi Highness, he naturally had the qualifications to go straight to the sixth level or even higher.

When the Scripture Pavilion Elder saw him, he respectfully bowed, preparing to guide him to the upper levels.

However, to everyone's surprise, Xu Yuan waved his hand at the Elder and said in a calm tone, "Elder, there is no need for trouble. Today, I wish to start looking from the first level."

After speaking, he actually stepped toward the area on the first level of the Scripture Pavilion where a large number of basic Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills were displayed.

This scene stunned all the Outer Sect Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples who were reading classics or cultivating spells on the first level. They all stopped what they were doing and cast gazes of surprise and uncertainty toward Xu Yuan.

"It is Daozi Highness!"

"Why would he come to the first level?"

"With Daozi Highness's status and Aptitude, shouldn't he go directly to the upper levels to find advanced Cultivation Techniques?"

"Could it be... that he is here to visit someone? Or is there some special matter?"

Whispers sounded softly in the quiet first level of the Scripture Pavilion, and everyone was filled with confusion and curiosity.

They watched as Xu Yuan, like an ordinary Disciple, strolled between rows of bookshelves and Jade Slip display racks. His gaze focused on those low-level Sword Technique Secret Manuals that they had long since memorized by heart and even looked down upon—《Basic Sword Formula》, 《Wind-Splitting Sword Technique》, 《Three Forms of Breaking the Flow》...

These Sword Techniques could barely even be considered Martial Skills; they were just the most rudimentary techniques for moving and exerting force, the things every newly entered Disciple used to build their Foundation.

What is Daozi Highness doing looking at these?

Just as everyone was confused, an Inner Sect Disciple who had been observing carefully suddenly widened his eyes, as if he had thought of something, and exclaimed in a low voice:

"I... I understand!"

Hearing this, the surrounding Disciples immediately looked at him.

That Disciple excitedly looked at Xu Yuan's focused and calm profile, and with a tone full of admiration, explained to those around him, "Daozi Highness is... reviewing the old to learn the new! No, he is drawing on the strengths of all, rebuilding his Foundation!"

The more the Disciple spoke, the brighter his eyes became, "His Highness possesses peerless Aptitude. What he cultivated in the past must have been the most profound Legacy within the Sect."

"But, a ten-thousand-foot building rises from the ground! No matter how profound a Sword Technique is, its Foundation cannot be separated from these most basic things!"

"His Highness is casting aside all vanity, extracting nutrients from the most essential and basic Sword Technique principles, and integrating them, so that his own Sword Dao Foundation becomes even more impeccable!"

"Only by mastering every minute bit of power to the extreme and understanding the true meaning of every basic Move can one walk out their own invincible Saber Dao in the future!"

"His Highness... his ambition is great, far beyond what we can reach!"

After his explanation, all the surrounding Disciples were stunned for a moment, then immediately revealed expressions of sudden realization, followed by immense shock and admiration!

"So that is how it is!"

"As expected of Daozi Highness! His thoughts are truly extraordinary!"

"We are still pursuing higher-grade Cultivation Techniques, while His Highness has already returned to simplicity, polishing the most solid Dao Foundation!"

"No wonder His Highness could suppress Senior Brother Zhao Zheng. Such Heart-Nature and vision are beyond our reach!"

In an instant, all doubts and confusion transformed into deep admiration and reverence.

Xu Yuan did not care about the surrounding discussions and gazes.

He was immersed in his own world, using the Saber Dao Aptitude that came with his Innate Blade Heart to re-examine these most basic Sword Techniques.

Before he awakened his past life's wisdom, the original body, although also possessing the Innate Blade Heart, had directly cultivated high-level Cultivation Techniques and did not care much about these basic Sword Techniques, which is why he reached the sixth level of Qi Condensation at a young age.

And in his previous life, he was just a Loose Cultivator, and although he was lucky enough to achieve a Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, it was only a flawed Dao Foundation, and he likewise had no opportunity to systematically Cultivate Sword Techniques from the basics.

Now that he had this opportunity, Xu Yuan naturally would not miss it.

This was not useless work; after all, the power of Xu Yuan's Heavenly Tribulation Blade could increase with his understanding of Saber Dao.

He flipped through one Cultivation Technique after another. With Xu Yuan's Innate Blade Heart Saber Dao Aptitude and the vision from his previous life's Foundation Establishment, he often only needed to glance through them once to fully understand the operational methods of these Sword Techniques.

In his eyes, these shallow Sword Techniques were no longer ordinary.

Every slash, chop, lift, and hack contained the most primitive rules of power and beauty of Saber Dao.

Many subtle points that he had not noticed before were now suddenly clear; many changes in profound Sword Techniques that were difficult to understand could now also find their embryonic forms and principles in these basics.

Xu Yuan was like the most brilliant craftsman, re-polishing every subtle edge of a piece of uncut jade, striving for it to be flawless.

From this day on, Xu Yuan almost permanently stationed himself in the Scripture Pavilion.

He was not just skimming through; he truly settled his heart, carefully reading and comprehending, one by one, those basic Sword Techniques that were regarded as Foundations and even disdained by many Inner Sect Disciples.

With his cultivation at the Eighth Level of Qi Condensation, he was already immune to cold and heat and had abundant energy. Even after reading and comprehending without sleep or rest for several days, he did not feel tired at all.

His actions initially attracted the attention and curiosity of many Disciples, but as time passed, everyone saw that Daozi Highness was always single-minded and completely immersed in those basic Sword Techniques, so they gradually got used to it.

After finishing the Cultivation Techniques on the first level, he went up to the second level; after finishing the Cultivation Techniques on the second level, he went up to the third level...

Although the higher-level Cultivation Techniques were more profound and complex, Xu Yuan's reading speed did not slow down; on the contrary, it became faster and faster.

And as he read more and more Sword Technique Secret Manuals, a wonderful change occurred in Xu Yuan.

The sharp, aggressive Saber Intent that originally naturally exuded from his body due to possessing dual Aptitudes began to gradually become introverted and settled.

In the past, one could vaguely feel the sharpness when Xu Yuan opened and closed his eyes, but later on, when he stood there, he was like the most ordinary Qi Condensation Stage Disciple, with a peaceful aura and gentle eyes, without any special features at all.

It was like a shocking, precious blade being slowly sheathed into an ancient scabbard, concealing all brilliance and murderous aura.