Chapter 161: The Ninefold Bright Azure Emperor Formula

"Two bottles of Profound Kun primordial blood and this martial art manual, the *Ninefold Bright Azure Emperor Art*."

Li Jiansan opened his palm, revealing three porcelain bottles pulsing with a violent, overwhelming aura.

The *Ninefold Bright Azure Emperor Art* was a divine body-refining technique, renowned as the supreme body-refining art across the entire continent. Legend had it that it was an ultra-powerful martial art from the True Martial Immortal Sect, a supreme external domain faction. Back in the day, the True Martial Immortal Sect had relied on this very body-refining technique to suppress the heavens and the myriad realms.

Powerful though it was, unfortunately, a major portion of the technique had been lost. The *Ninefold Bright Azure Emperor Art* acquired by the Azure Dragon Academy was merely an incomplete martial text, making it fundamentally impossible to cultivate.

The Chief Elder advised, "Although this martial art is immensely powerful, it is incomplete and completely uncultivable."

Li Jiansan shook his head, "I wish to study and try my hand at it."

"So be it, as you wish. Just make sure you do not regret this in the future."

The Chief Elder ceased his persuasion. After all, quite a few disciples in the past had attempted to study this martial art, only to return empty-handed every single time. How could a supreme martial art from the external domains be cultivated so easily?

"Regret?"

Li Jiansan smiled faintly. He possessed the Purple-Eyed Demonic Pupils; any flaw in the world could be deduced and perfected through them, let alone an incomplete martial art.

Upon seeing the other item Li Jiansan had chosen, the Chief Elder's expression shifted drastically.

"While this Profound Kun primordial blood is divine beast blood and exceedingly precious, it offers no benefit to one's cultivation realm. It serves only one purpose: tempering the physical body."

"However, the energy of the Profound Kun primordial blood is far too violent. Your current physique cannot possibly withstand it. Even experts at the Profound Origin Realm would not dare to attempt it lightly."

"Precisely for this reason, this Profound Kun primordial blood was placed on the first tier."

"You should go back and choose a few other items instead."

The Chief Elder advised him once more.

"There is no need."

Li Jiansan already understood that cultivating the *Ninefold Bright Azure Emperor Art* would elevate his physical body by leaps and bounds. How could he possibly give up the Profound Kun primordial blood? Even if there were ten drops of it, Li Jiansan would want to claim every single one.

"You really should reconsider. Although you possess formidable talent, if you act so recklessly and abandon caution, others will inevitably leave you far behind in the dust."

The Chief Elder persisted, speaking with earnest sincerity.

"Chief Elder, my mind is made up. Please lift the restriction."

Li Jiansan said calmly.

"Have it your way, sigh..." Although the Chief Elder lifted the restriction, he let out a heavy sigh, feeling a sense of disappointment toward Li Jiansan.

"Now, I shall distribute the Black Gold Pills to you all."

At these words, everyone's eyes ignited with fiery anticipation. These were Tier 4 medicinal pills—the very treasures they dreamed of day and night!

The function of the Black Gold Pill was to grant cultivators in the Foundation Establishment realm a hundred percent certainty of advancing by an entire major realm. Such a terrifying effect made countless Foundation Establishment cultivators whose cultivation had stagnated salivate with desire, though it remained an utterly unattainable dream for them.

"Li Huazhan, third place in the examination, is awarded one Black Gold Pill."

Following the Chief Elder's call, Li Huazhan stepped forward and received a pitch-black, lustrous pill from the elder's hand.

Upon acquiring the Black Gold Pill, a brilliant light flared in Li Huazhan's eyes. Once he consumed this Black Gold Pill, he was absolute certain he could break through two consecutive realms. When that time came, any so-called peerless geniuses would be no match for him.

"Zhang Dabao, second place in the examination, is awarded two Black Gold Pills."

Hearing the Chief Elder call his name, Zhang Dabao extended his chubby little hands and took two Black Gold Pills from the elder's calloused palms.

"Li Jiansan, first place in the examination, is awarded three Black Gold Pills."

Hearing this, Li Jiansan also walked up to the Chief Elder's side and claimed his three Black Gold Pills.

As Li Jiansan took the pills, the Chief Elder earnestly exhorted, "I hope you make good use of these Black Gold Pills and do not let us down."

Li Jiansan replied, "Understood."

"Very well, the Lost Forest examination has now fully concluded. You may all withdraw and attend to your respective matters."

With that, the crowd quietly dispersed.

As they left, Zhang Dabao cast a curious glance toward Elder Hong outside the Spirit Treasure Hall. However, Elder Hong kept his eyes tightly closed, acting as if he was completely unaware of their departure.

After Li Jiansan and the others had gone, Elder Hong suddenly opened his eyes. "Ge boy, was the kid who won first place named Li Jiansan?"

"Yes, Elder Hong."

The Chief Elder's name was Ge Ye. He was still inside the Spirit Treasure Hall, yet he knew that even if he spoke here, Elder Hong could hear him with crystal clarity.

Elder Hong inquired, "That brat must have caused quite a commotion, didn't he?"

"Indeed. Not only did he furiously slay an elder during the Lost Forest examination, but he also ended up executing a leader of the new initiates," the Chief Elder nodded and said.

"Oh, that sounds rather interesting." Elder Hong's interest was instantly piqued. "The trouble he stirred up doesn't stop there, does it?"

"Correct. At the very end of the assessment, he actually attempted to obliterate this batch of inner disciples. If I hadn't intervened in time, they might truly have been wiped out by him."

Even now, a lingering trace of fear remained in the Chief Elder's heart.

"Furthermore, he even slaughtered a Tier 3 savage beast. His combat prowess is utterly astonishing!"

"Li Jiansan is only at the third or fourth layer of the Foundation Establishment realm, yet he actually killed a Tier 3 savage beast? Those are comparable to Martial Monarchs!"

Even as composed a figure as Elder Hong could not remain calm at this revelation.

"Not only that, but during the class assignment, this little wretch actually had the audacity to guide the elders. In the end, everything he said turned out to be correct, solving those elders' bottlenecks in a flash and allowing them to achieve breakthroughs."

When Elder Hong first heard the Chief Elder say that Li Jiansan had instructed the elders, he had found it somewhat laughable. No matter how outstanding a newcomer's talent might be, it was impossible for them to tutor an elder.

However, upon hearing the Chief Elder's subsequent sentence, he could no longer remain seated. "How is that possible? How could he possibly guide the elders and even help them break through?"

The more he spoke, the softer Elder Hong's voice became. "Even with a formidable soul force, achieving such a feat should be impossible..."

"Forget it, I won't dwell on it."

After a long silence, Elder Hong suddenly burst into hearty laughter. "Li Jiansan, you are becoming more and more interesting by the day. Perhaps in a few years, you might actually be able to challenge that person..."

Naturally, Li Jiansan remained entirely oblivious to the conversation between Elder Hong and the Chief Elder.

By this time, he had already arrived at the Cultivation Grounds.

The Cultivation Grounds were a unique sanctuary exclusive to the Azure Dragon Academy. They possessed an immense concentration of fiery elemental energy, and rumor had it that rolling magma flowed directly beneath the grounds, providing enormous benefits to martial cultivation.

The Cultivation Grounds contained Human-tier, Earth-tier, and Heaven-tier cultivation chambers. Based on his current standing, Li Jiansan was only permitted to enter the Human-tier chambers.

"Elder, I wish to enter a Human-tier cultivation chamber."

Li Jiansan said calmly to an elderly man with a pale complexion.

"Oh? How is it that I have never seen you before? Are you a newly enrolled disciple?"

The elder looked Li Jiansan up and down. Nearing fifty years of age and having seen countless people in his lifetime, he could usually remember anyone he had laid eyes on even once, yet his mind held no record of Li Jiansan.

Li Jiansan smiled faintly, "I am indeed a newly arrived initiate."

"Since you are a new disciple, it is my duty to remind you that the Cultivation Grounds contain terrifying blazing forces. Even the Human-tier chambers possess scorching, intense heat."

He glanced at Li Jiansan and continued, "Your current cultivation realm is still rather lacking. I suggest you return a month from now."

Li Jiansan cupped his fists slightly toward the elder, "Thank you for the advice, Elder, but I would like to go in and try my luck right now."

"Haha, to think a fresh recruit could be so diligent. Not bad, not bad."

The elder let out a few hearty laughs, "In that case, pay the merit points and you may enter."

"Understood." After paying three hundred merit points, Li Jiansan was granted entry into the Cultivation Grounds.

Disciples of the Azure Dragon Academy needed to pay a certain amount of merit points to cultivate in the chambers. The Human-tier chamber chosen by Li Jiansan cost three hundred merit points.

Upon payment, Li Jiansan obtained a one-day usage right for the Human-tier cultivation chamber.

Merit points were stored within the academy's identity tokens and could be used for various transactions within the Azure Dragon Academy, such as acquiring medicinal herbs, weapons, and martial techniques.

Every newly enrolled disciple received one thousand merit points upon their identity token. Afterward, if they wished to acquire more, they had to visit the Merit Hall to accept tasks and complete them to earn points.

Upon entering the Human-tier cultivation chamber, Li Jiansan intended to begin cultivating the *Ninefold Bright Azure Emperor Art*.

This body-refining technique possessed peerless might and was hailed as the supreme body-refining art of the Nine Provinces continent. However, its prerequisites for cultivation were extremely harsh; not only must one begin practicing it from the Foundation Establishment realm, but one's physical aptitude also had to reach an exceptionally flawless level.

In addition, cultivating the *Ninefold Bright Azure Emperor Art* required a formidable soul force.

This body-refining art comprised a total of nine layers. Although the difficulty of cultivation was immense, if one managed to reach the ninth layer, they would awaken the Martial Saint physique and even pierce through the shackles of the Saint realm!

If Li Jiansan wished to rapidly recover his cultivation, the *Ninefold Bright Azure Emperor Art* served as a major shortcut. If he could drive this technique to the ninth layer, he would breach the Saint realm, putting him merely a single step away from the Divine realm!

Li Jiansan secretly hardened his resolve, a piercing, indomitable determination erupting within his eyes.

Ever since he stepped into the Foundation Establishment realm, his soul force had also undergone a breakthrough. With his current soul force, he could likely sweep across any ancient monster in the entire Jiang Kingdom.

Moreover, he had consistently refined his physical body; by now, his physique had advanced to a near-flawless state, and his physical strength was practically sufficient to overwhelm all Foundation Establishment experts.

Armed with these preparations, Li Jiansan was filled with absolute confidence as he prepared to cultivate the *Ninefold Bright Azure Emperor Art*.

Without further ado, Li Jiansan swallowed a drop of the Profound Kun primordial blood.

Then, taking a deep breath, he slowly closed his eyes, formed hand seals, and began his cultivation according to the formula of the *Ninefold Bright Azure Emperor Art*.

"Hiss..."

Li Jiansan drew in a sharp breath. The moment the drop of Profound Kun primordial blood entered his body, he felt countless roaring flames ignite within him.

Waves of intense agony surged through every single inch of his body.

However, this pain still fell within Li Jiansan's threshold of endurance. Having been tempered by the Three-Purity Body-Refining Liquid, his body had long since been elevated to a terrifying realm, making it fully capable of withstanding the rigors of the *Ninefold Bright Azure Emperor Art*.

At this moment, a faint azure glow gradually spread across the surface of his skin.

Boom!

Suddenly, the surrounding heaven and earth vital energy rushed toward Li Jiansan in a torrential deluge, resembling a massive mountain flood.

Simultaneously, the faint azure glow enveloping Li Jiansan grew increasingly brilliant. The dazzling green radiance shone like a suspended midday sun, illuminating the entire cultivation chamber where Li Jiansan sat.