To comprehend the Third Layer of Sword Intent requires an enormous amount of time to appreciate and refine, as it is a gift beyond one’s natural talent.

Gold Generating Water can be transformed smoothly, but to simulate the Technique Intent of other Five Elements requires multiple layers of transformation.

He walks a path of One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Techniques, with the Metal Element as the foundation, developing different Sword Intents for targeted strikes.

Li Haoran understands the weaknesses of Sword Cultivators, not daring to traverse through a sea of fire, choosing instead to avoid attacks by moving upwards with his sword.

Simultaneously, he divides twenty-seven Sword Lights into one, attacking the opponent according to the original route.

Fire waves brush past him, subjected to the dual baptism of extreme cold and heat, he feels a faint tendency for his skin to crack, painfully burning.

This is the first time in years that he was injured without having claimed victory in battle.

The Sword Light weaves through the sea of fire, its power continuously diminished, and as it finally reached Ji An’s side, the Wuji Xinghuang Banner unfurled a shower of Golden Flowers.

After constant weakening, the Sword Light reached him in a depleted state, unable to penetrate the second level of defense of the Wuji Xinghuang Banner, extinguishing within layers of Yellow Spirit Light.

Ji An felt invigorated in spirit, meaning unless the opponent could launch a surprise attack, he could not be put into deadly danger.

The ensuing battle was a splendid spectacle, with Li Haoran riding the Sword Light, fleetingly before and after, transforming Sword Qi into waves, endlessly layered.

Ji An responded with various Magic Techniques, managing two Top-Grade Spiritual Artifacts, exchanging blows fiercely with the opponent.

Golden River surged, Silver Wave soared, Flowing Flame scattered, Ten Thousand Red Flowers bloomed.

Two quarters of an hour passed, and Ji An felt both Magical Power and Power of Spirit Soul were simultaneously unsustainable, he called out:

"Senior Brother, let’s end it here, I can’t hold on any longer."

Li Haoran withdrew the Sword Light, laughed heartily and said:

"What a delight!"

He hadn’t had such an exhilarating battle for a long time, as in the Far North, battles often ended within a quarter hour.

No Cultivator of the same tier had ever persisted before his assaults for so long; this opponent was the first.

Moreover, the opponent wasn’t purely defensive; his attacks were visibly sharp and posed significant threats to his life.

The Earth-Departing Flame Banner and Wuji Xinghuang Banner shrank gradually, absorbed into Ji An’s body, nurtured within his Dantian.

He felt as if his heart was a war drum, pounding incessantly, breathing heavily to calm down, he said:

"If we continue fighting, I will surely lose."

The opponent’s speed was overwhelming; aside from the Geng Metal Spirit-Slaying Sword, other Magic Techniques struggled to keep up.

If they truly engaged in life-and-death combat, he would be passive, and due to the speed, whether to advance or retreat depends entirely on the opponent’s whim.

This battle, he spared everything except the Spirit Soul Attack Secret Skill: Spirit Roar, fully exerting his combat standard.

Li Haoran steadied his turbulent blood, smiling he said:

"Junior Brother, you are too modest. I can’t break through your defenses; it’s hard to win."

Though Sword Escape is fast, it remains in high-speed motion constantly, consuming greatly.

Several times during his full assault, the Flying Sword decisively broke through the opponent’s defense, striking his body, yet it felt like stabbing a block of iron, returning without success.

The closest time to success was leaving a two-inch sword mark on the opponent’s back of the hand, the only effective attack that drew blood.

This Junior Brother’s defense is so strong he felt unmatched among Cultivators of the same tier.

"Junior Brother, with your current Magical Combat capability, you can venture outside freely, as long as you’re not trapped by others’ malice, any place in the world can be yours."

Li Haoran admired inwardly that such abilities shouldn’t be possessed by a mere Spirit Farmer, the opponent surely had heaven-defying opportunities.

The two exchanged amicably for a while, Li Haoran then said:

"Once I open the Wood Element Divine Mansion, I’ll temporarily reside at Red Flame Peak, and spar well with Junior Brother again."

This battle, though exerted to the utmost, ended neither in victory nor defeat, subduing his inner pride.

He planned to return, carefully reviewing this battle, seeking a solution.

For he found the opponent was like a turtle encased in thorns, with his past combat experience feeling an unexpected sense of where to start.

"Alright, let’s have an exhilarating spar when the time comes."

Ji An paused and said:

"Senior Brother Li, Phoenix Wood is a Tier Four Spirit Plant, the initial compensation was too low, I should provide more."

"No need, this is just a regular transaction; once money and goods are settled, each goes their separate way, why keep further entanglements?

Junior Brother promised to give some Spirit Fruit after the Spirit Plant yields; I already benefited greatly.

In the future, when purchasing Sword Bamboo Golden Leaves, Junior Brother fulfills my requests as much as possible, it would be my pleasure."

Li Haoran said as he took out a Beast Hide with white patterns, smiling:

"This was taken from a Demon Beast at the Fourth Transformation of the Chao Origin Stage, trading Golden Leaves with Junior Brother."

"Senior Brother’s good methods, however my supply of Top-Grade Sword Bamboo Leaves has dwindled; a few years later, compensation will be given."

"Junior Brother, take it, it counts as a deposit, just prioritize delivering the Golden Leaves to me."

"Senior Brother trusts me, graciously I’ll accept."

High-Tier Beast Hide is a quality circulating resource, hard to come by.

Ji An happily took the Beast Hide, using tools carefully measuring:

"The Beast Hide is rather intact, enough to cut one hundred and twenty Talismans, according to the Treasure Pavilion’s exchange rules, it can obtain twenty-four thousand Small Merits.

Currently, the Top-Grade Profound Leaf Sword Bamboo at Red Flame Peak is scarce; then I’ll trade half Middle Grade Sword Bamboo Leaves and half Top-Grade Sword Bamboo Leaves with Senior Brother, would that suffice?"

"Suffices."

Li Haoran nodded; he had access to Top-Grade Sword Bamboo Golden Leaves only through the Treasure Pavilion and Red Flame Peak.

...

At the next evening’s dusk, Ji An left the Agricultural Hall, riding clouds around Ningcui Cliff, today was the day for Spirit Field spellcasting.

He first cast spells for the Medicinal Garden at the mountainside, then reached the mountaintop grotto mansion.

"Where did Master go?"

He inquired; ordinarily at this time, Master would sit in his chair, waiting to chat.

The maid bowed, smiling she said:

"Elder Ge had a good mood after lunch, saying he would wander around the Sect, visiting old friends, won’t return tonight."

"It’s rare Master has leisure interest, quite well."

Ji An said, Master’s willingness to go out is good, staying in the grotto mansion day after day gradually leads to losing vitality in mindset.

He invoked a spell to open the Mimic Array, stepping into the medicinal garden, casting various Magic Techniques on different Spirit Medicines.

Two types of Spirit Medicines are cultivated here, Wood Element and Fire Element.

In an instant, Cyan Dragon’s Sky Chant resounded, fire light gleamed, followed by dense clouds and torrential rain, Technique Intents intertwined, vibrant and thriving.

Ji An rode clouds to the rock face, opening the Dharma Prohibition, walking slowly along stone steps, passing through the light curtain, his pupils couldn’t help but constrict.

He saw the leaves of the most robust Spirit Peach Tree glowing far brighter than usual, veins like burning flames, distinct from nearby peach trees.

A multitude of Purple Crystal Bees danced cheerfully around the Spirit Tree, the buzzing never ceased.

Despite the abundant Spirit Bees, order prevailed.

Ji An felt invigorated, stepping forward suddenly, appearing next to the Spirit Peach Tree.

Excitedly, he extended his hand upon the rough tree bark of the Spirit Wood, immediately sensing the vibrant Life Force flowing within, as though immersed in the fire sea conjured by the Zhurong Divine Fire Spell.

"Tier Two Top-grade Spiritual Peach," Ji An murmured softly, a wave of immense joy surged.

He took charge of Ningcui Cliff for less than thirty years, yet could cultivate Top-grade Spirit Plants; the power of three Great Perfection Level Magic Techniques was stronger than expected.

After a while, he emerged from the dizzying sensation.

He laughed aloud and invoked the Azure Dragon Shocking Skill.

A ten-foot Cyan Dragon elegantly appeared from the void, its dark green scales glistening.

It gently opened its mouth, resembling a spring thunder, the dragon’s roar resonated; Cyan Light fell like rain, heaven and earth blossomed in Cyan Lotus, flourishing growth of Technique Intent spread across every inch of land.

Light rain seeped into the Spirit Tree immediately, more Wood Element Spiritual Energy drawn by the Top-grade Spiritual Peach Tree.

He changed spells, consecutively releasing Zhurong Divine Fire Spell and Yellow Dragon Essence Enhancement Skill, then striding away with an unapologetic gait.