Zhang Deming nodded. "I just rented this Cave Mansion yesterday for a week, so there are still six and a half days left.

"You can go ahead and attempt your breakthrough. If you run out of time, I’ll extend the rental."

Li Shifan said, "That’s enough time, definitely. But I’m not in a rush. I want to wait until I’ve fully grasped the Sword Control Skill and become proficient with it.

"It’s still so clumsy right now that I can’t even call it Entry Level. Trying to condense the Rune like this is too risky."

"I just wanted to give you a heads-up so I could prepare."

Zhang Deming smiled faintly. "Do you know why I just asked if you had reached the Entry Level with your Sword Control Skill?"

Puzzled, Li Shifan shook his head. "No, I don’t."

With a wave of his hand, a sword materialized in Zhang Deming’s grasp. The Long Sword then began to wobble as it floated above his palm.

The Tier Two Sword Control Skill consisted entirely of special techniques. General object manipulation was extremely difficult.

Being able to control the Sword at all meant that one had, at the very least, reached the Entry Level for the Skill.

Li Shifan said in astonishment and envy, "Senior Brother, you’re so rich! You even managed to get a storage pouch."

Zhang Deming was speechless. "..."

’Was that what I wanted you to see...? Then again, for a Cultivator to focus on that is perfectly normal.’

He shook his head and said, "This is what I wanted you to see."

Emitting a peculiar ripple of energy, the Long Sword flew directly in front of Li Shifan.

Only then did Li Shifan tear his gaze away from Zhang Deming’s waist. He froze completely.

Controlling an object with Spiritual Power and controlling a Sword with the Sword Control Skill felt entirely different. There was a fundamental distinction between the two.

As someone who was already on the verge of mastering the Sword Control Skill, how could Li Shifan not sense the difference?

He looked up in shock at Zhang Deming. "Senior Brother, you’ve already learned the Sword Control Skill?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

And from the looks of it, Zhang Deming wasn’t just at the initial Entry Level. He was clearly very proficient; otherwise, he wouldn’t be demonstrating his Sword Control abilities.

Zhang Deming nodded. Li Shifan said, "And here the Li Family Ancestor was telling me I have a Sword Body and that I’m a genius of the Sword Dao. Compared to you, Senior Brother, what kind of genius am I?"

Zhang Deming shook his head. "That’s why I asked you what I did. If I had to comprehend the Sword Control Skill on my own, I doubt I’d have even reached the threshold by now."

Hearing this, Li Shifan looked at Zhang Deming in confusion. "Senior Brother, what do you mean?"

Zhang Deming extended his hand and opened his palm. A transparent, glass-like bead appeared in it. Inside the bead, a miniature Flying Sword Rune swam about.

Li Shifan’s brow furrowed in confusion as he stared at the Spirit Nurturing Bead.

Like Zhang Deming, he had also lived in seclusion for many years. To survive, he had feigned being Ordinary and hidden himself among the masses, only to rapidly advance his cultivation when the time came.

His foundation of knowledge, while slightly better than Zhang Deming’s had been, wasn’t better by much.

Of course, Zhang Deming had been cramming for the past six months, so he was no longer quite so ’clueless.’

Thus, he didn’t recognize the Spirit Nurturing Bead. Just then, Li Shifan’s expression shifted. He held out a hand, palm open.

An ancient-looking Scroll abruptly materialized from his palm.

A miniature, illusory human figure emerged from the Scroll. It lounged lazily upon the Scroll’s surface, stared at the glass-like bead, and said in astonishment, "A Mastery Level Spirit Nurturing Bead for the Sword Control Skill?"

Li Shifan asked in confusion, "What’s a Mastery Level Spirit Nurturing Bead for the Sword Control Skill?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Li Shifan’s eyes glazed over.

Clearly, the Li Family Ancestor was communicating with him telepathically again.

Their telepathic exchange was incredibly fast. A moment later, Li Shifan came to his senses, and his eyes burned with a fiery passion as he looked at the Spirit Nurturing Bead.

After all, his Sword Control Skill was about to reach the Entry Level. With a Spirit Nurturing Bead of this grade, combined with his aptitude for the Sword Dao...

...he wouldn’t just become proficient—he might even reach the Mastery stage directly.

If that happened, this bead would be far more helpful for his breakthrough than an Ordinary primary ingredient.

After all, breakthrough materials only indirectly helped a Rune to condense, whereas advancing a Technique had a direct impact on the illusory Rune itself.

This was also why Zhang Deming’s own advancement had been so easy and natural.

Seeing the fervent look in his eyes, Zhang Deming smiled. "I came across three of these by a stroke of luck."

"My own aptitude isn’t great, so I had to use two of them to learn the skill."

"It took two just for me to barely get the hang of it."

"This third one is what’s left over."

At these words, the fire in Li Shifan’s eyes intensified. "Senior Brother, would you consider selling it to me?"

"Of course, I know that a Spirit Nurturing Bead of this level is the kind of thing you can only stumble upon, not seek out."

"Name your price, whatever it is."

Zhang Deming smiled faintly. "Since I took it out, I’m sure you’ve guessed that I intend to sell it to you."

"You wouldn’t believe me if I said I wanted nothing in return."

"So how about this? Just consider it another favor you owe me."

’You’re the only fat sheep I’ve found so far. If I don’t keep fleecing you, where will my Merit come from?’

Li Shifan’s expression flickered. He studied Zhang Deming seriously for a long moment before saying, "Alright! Senior Brother, I’ll remember this favor."

Zhang Deming tossed the Spirit Nurturing Bead to Li Shifan. "A Tier Two Spirit Nurturing Bead, Mastery Level, and for the rare Sword Control Skill at that. It would normally cost one hundred and thirty-five Spirit Stones."

"I got it for only a hundred Spirit Stones because of some connections. So, I’ll charge you a hundred Spirit Stones as well. Seeing as you’re pretty broke, I won’t rip you off."

Li Shifan caught the Spirit Nurturing Bead, but he froze once more. His face flushed beet red as he said:

"Um, Senior Brother... I... I don’t have enough Spirit Stones. I only have a little over sixty right now."