BOOM!

At that moment, under the influence of the Element Transformation Technique, the Cultivation from his Nine Flames Spirit Devouring Technique was rapidly converted into that of the Three-Turns Fierce Sun Technique. His Cultivation Realm remained at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer.

However, the quality of his Spiritual Power was far superior to when he had used the Red Flame Technique. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Afterward, Zhang Chi performed the conversion three more times and found it was indeed effective.

After the third transformation, whenever he used the Three-Turns Fierce Sun Technique, the fluctuations of Spiritual Power around him grew noticeably stronger, and the total amount of Spiritual Power he could command increased as well.

Furthermore, since his Spiritual Power had originated from cultivating a Top Grade Demon Technique, it was now far superior even to that produced by an ordinary Upper Grade Cultivation Technique.

However, when he converted it back to the Nine Flames Spirit Devouring Technique, there was no significant change in his Spiritual Power.

Evidently, the Three-Turns Fierce Sun Technique’s grade was too low; even after three transformations, it couldn’t reach the ceiling of the Top Grade Demon Technique.

Moreover, the technique could only be transformed a maximum of three times; any further conversions yielded no improvement.

Still, this was already quite good.

At the very least, his Combat Power had increased significantly for when he wasn’t using the Demon Technique.

As for his original Low Grade Red Flame Technique, while it could be converted back and forth with the Top Grade Demon Technique, its quality was so limiting that when he used it, Zhang Chi could barely bring out a tenth of his true power.

Zhang Chi also discovered that he could use the Element Transformation Technique to control the Three-Turns Fierce Sun Technique, allowing him to switch between its First Transformation, Second Transformation, and Third Transformation.

The difference between them lay in the different pathways for circulating the technique, which determined how much Spiritual Power he could mobilize.

Zhang Chi was very pleased with this.

This way, he wouldn’t have to worry during the Sect’s assessments, where it might be discovered that he had reached the third transformation, revealing a discrepancy in his abilities.

Having settled the matter of his Cultivation Technique, Zhang Chi immediately began to cultivate the Divine Concealment Technique.

A few days later, he successfully reached the Entry Level of the Divine Concealment Technique. Its effects were clearly superior to the Qi Concealment Technique.

As it turned out, his Divine Thought was already slightly stronger than others of the Same Tier, to say nothing of the fact that he had been continuously cultivating the White Bone Divine Forging Technique.

A powerful Divine Thought naturally provided a boost to the Divine Concealment Technique.

Using this technique, he could control the Cultivation level he displayed.

He could conceal it completely at the lowest setting, or display any level up to his current Cultivation Realm.

Furthermore, the Divine Concealment Technique could also hide and control his body’s Blood Qi and his Body Refining Cultivation.

Additionally, the Divine Concealment Technique could alter the aura of his Spiritual Power.

When cultivated to a high level, and with a sufficiently powerful Divine Thought, one could even vanish from within the range of an enemy’s Divine Thought.

In that case, as long as an enemy didn’t see him with their own eyes, he could move about as if he were invisible. The name Divine Concealment Technique was truly well-deserved.

"Not bad at all!"

Zhang Chi nodded, satisfied.

Next, he patted his Storage Bag, took out the Upper Grade Sword Control Jade Scroll, and began to read it.

The Sword Control technique was called Wind and Thunder.

As the name suggested, after cultivating this skill, one’s Sword Control would be as swift as wind and thunder.

When cultivated to its peak and combined with a profound Cultivation, its Mighty Power would be comparable to a tempest and thunderbolts.

’Truly extraordinary. No wonder there are rumors in the Immortal Cultivation Realm that Sword Cultivators have the greatest Combat Power of their tier.’

Zhang Chi marveled inwardly after reading it through.

This Wind and Thunder Sword Control Skill was the very same one Chen Bufan had demonstrated during the entrance test.

Of course, he had received the Sect’s permission at the time; otherwise, Chen Bufan would never have dared to do so.

The training methods and the combat applications of the Sword Control Technique were completely different. What Chen Bufan had demonstrated was merely the training method.

Furthermore, this Sword Control Technique had several realms of mastery: Entry Level, Minor Success, Great Success, and Perfection.

Even reaching Entry Level could drastically improve one’s Combat Power, allowing for a dazzling array of maneuvers with a Flying Sword.

And that was to say nothing of the realms beyond Entry Level.

However, reaching even the Entry Level was clearly extremely difficult without talent in the Sword Dao and guidance from a master.

Zhang Chi, however, wasn’t worried.

His Divine Thought was constantly growing stronger, and his Comprehension was steadily increasing along with it.

Once it reached a certain point, he would undoubtedly be considered a genius among his peers of the Same Tier.

For instance, if he reached the Qi Cultivation Peak, his Divine Thought might be comparable to that of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

At that point, it would be, in a sense, like cultivating this Sword Control Technique with a Foundation Establishment level of perception, which would undoubtedly make it much easier.

Of course, even with that advantage, it would only make reaching the Entry Level relatively easier.

Achieving Minor Success, let alone Great Success, would still be exceedingly difficult.

After all, even for Foundation Establishment and Golden Core Cultivators, an Upper Grade Sword Control Technique was an excellent tool, and mastering it was still a great challenge.

But Zhang Chi remained confident.

He knew from the Sect Jade Scroll that there was a perilous place within the Sect known as the Sword Tomb.

The Sword Tomb, it was said, was the burial place of one of the Sect’s founding grandmasters, along with his sword.

This grandmaster was a top-tier Sword Cultivator; it was even rumored that the grand plaza at the sect’s entrance was carved from a mountain he had leveled with a single sword strike.

After the grandmaster’s death, his powerful Sword Intent lingered, eventually spiraling out of control and leaking into the surroundings. It transformed the entire valley where he was buried into a perilous land.

Fierce gales, imbued with a faint Sword Intent, howled there year-round. The deeper one ventured, the stronger the Sword Intent became. It was said that even Nascent Soul Powerhouses dared not rashly venture into its true depths.

However, despite the danger, this place also brought certain benefits to the Cangwu Sect.

If a genius in the Sword Dao could withstand the Sword Intent at its periphery, they had a chance to gain enlightenment and make great strides in their own Sword Dao.

A peerless genius of the Sword Dao might even be able to comprehend and master the grandmaster’s Sword Intent.

If that were to happen, it was said they could come and go from the Sword Tomb as they pleased, as if strolling through a park.

They might even gain the acknowledgment of the Flying Sword the grandmaster had left behind.

That Flying Sword was no mere Magical Artifact, nor even a Magical Treasure—it was an existence said to be beyond the level of Magical Treasures.

Of course, this was only a legend, as no one had ever succeeded.

However, everyone firmly believed that the place could help one cultivate Sword Control techniques.

The only problem was that the Sword Intent was overpowering; even at the edges, the experience was excruciating.

An ordinary Cultivator without any talent for the Sword Dao would only be subjecting themselves to needless torture by going there.

Enduring the ravages of the Sword Intent required an extremely strong will and a steady, methodical approach.

Thus, the valley where the Sword Tomb resided was also called the "Sword Testing Valley" by the Cultivators of the Cangwu Sect.

Over the past few days, while attending lectures, Zhang Chi had already heard Qin Susu and the other disciples he walked with mention it several times.

They said that not only did Chen Bufan possess an Innate Sword Bone, but he also relied on his powerful Heart to go to the outskirts of the Sword Testing Valley every day to seek enlightenment.

He had persisted in this for ten years before finally, just recently, cultivating his Wind and Thunder Sword Control Skill to the realm of Great Success.

Zhang Chi deduced from this that Chen Bufan must have thought Zhang Chi’s Heart was as strong as his own, and that he too could go to the Sword Testing Valley for Cultivation in Seclusion. That must be why he had shared the Sword Control Technique.

But since he hadn’t shown any talent for the Sword Dao during the entrance test, Chen Bufan had merely given him the Jade Scroll, not even bothering to meet him face-to-face.

To Chen Bufan, it must have just been a casual gesture.

Indeed, even if Qin Susu had lied before, Zhang Chi could still roughly surmise Chen Bufan’s true attitude.

’I may not have any talent for the Sword Dao, but as long as my Divine Soul is strong enough and I’m dedicated enough, my lack of talent won’t matter.’

’And the Sword Intent in the Sword Testing Valley is said to be a unique phenomenon that primarily affects the spiritual level. If that’s the case, my Jade Pendant can most likely grant me immunity.’

’In that case, as long as I venture deep enough, I can surely make up for my lack of talent. When that time comes, even someone with an Innate Sword Bone might not be my match.’

’Besides, the Sword Testing Valley is rarely visited by others. I won’t be discovered even if I go deep inside. This way, I can master the Sword Control Technique in secret.’

With this thought, Zhang Chi instantly made his decision.

The reason he planned to keep his mastery of the Sword Control Technique a secret was precisely because the Sect had ways to test for an Innate Sword Bone.

He didn’t have a comparable Physique, and his Comprehension had been deemed average during the initiation. If he suddenly demonstrated talent even more monstrous than Chen Bufan’s, he would have no way to explain it.

Therefore, it was better to quietly build his strength.

And so, over the next month, Zhang Chi began preparing for his plan.

Every day, he dedicated time to studying the Sword Control Technique. He also found time to complete the Refinement of his Golden Bamboo Leaf Flying Sword.

After all, one could never have too many Flying Swords.

One month later, at dawn, his preparations were finally complete. He slipped away and arrived at the outskirts of the Sword Testing Valley.