The Choice

1,572 words

After spending a day in his cave dwelling, Han Li once again stood before Li Huayuan and his wife the following day. He listened as his master spoke calmly:

"Han Li, have you thought about what you want me to give you? Speak your mind now."

"Disciple would like a cultivation technique suitable for his own training. I hope Master can grant this request." There was nothing to think over; he had already decided long ago, and the words came out without hesitation.

Li Huayuan showed no surprise at this. Instead, he turned to the young woman beside him with a faint smile, as if to say: See? I told you so. He would ask for a technique.

Then he turned back to Han Li and said calmly:

"Mn, a sound choice. Come closer, let me examine your spiritual root attributes, then I'll decide which technique to give you."

Han Li did not hesitate and stepped forward. A warm stream of energy quickly flowed through his meridians as the man grasped his wrist.

"Aside from metal affinity, you can cultivate techniques of any other attribute. To think you actually have four-attribute spiritual roots. This is rather surprising. I could tell from your outer appearance that your roots were mixed, but I didn't expect it to be to this degree." After a moment of probing, Li Huayuan's expression turned slightly odd as he let out a light sigh.

The young woman looked somewhat surprised as well. Though she did not speak, she could not help but study Han Li more closely.

"Disciple's poor aptitude disappoints Master," Han Li said, his face flushing slightly with some shame.

"That's not the issue. Since Heaven allowed you to successfully establish your foundation, it means you have your own fate. But this does make choosing a technique rather troublesome."

"What do you mean?"

Han Li blinked at these words but did not ask directly. His confusion, however, was plain on his face.

"Really now, you should explain things clearly to your disciple instead of leaving him hanging. What your master means is that he was originally planning to give you a good technique, but now that he sees your spiritual root attributes, he's hesitant. After all, better techniques are harder to cultivate. It might be wiser to give you a simpler method that would allow you to advance faster," the young woman chided Li Huayuan, then explained gently to Han Li.

"Correct. What my wife said is what I meant." Li Huayuan nodded repeatedly. Then he elaborated further:

"You should know that cultivation techniques for us immortal seekers can be divided into three broad categories based on power and effect. The first type offers average or even slow mana progression, but their accompanying divine powers and methods for overcoming enemies are often exceptionally powerful. In actual combat, practitioners of these techniques can easily defeat higher-realm cultivators even while still at a low level. For this reason, cultivators who know they have no hope of forming a core in this lifetime mostly choose this type."

"The second type is the opposite. These techniques are remarkably effective at advancing mana, easy to cultivate, and encounter bottlenecks far less frequently than the first type. But everything comes at a cost, and the advantages of the first type are precisely the fatal weakness of this one. These techniques essentially have no strong self-defense capabilities and pitifully few divine powers. Choosing this type means resigning yourself to being among the weakest of your rank for your entire cultivation career. Yet those who seek the higher realms of cultivation, who deludedly pursue the Heavenly Dao, often choose this type as well, because they offer the easiest path to the Core Formation stage."

Li Huayuan paused here, then suddenly smiled at Han Li.

"I wonder, Disciple, which type would you choose? Or rather, which type do you think suits you best?"

Han Li was momentarily stunned by the question and hesitated.

"Master, didn't you say there were three types? You've only mentioned two."

At Han Li's question, Li Huayuan exchanged an amused glance with his wife before speaking kindly:

"Indeed, besides the first two, there is a very rare third type—the top-tier cultivation methods pursued by many cultivators. However, I do not recommend you cultivate them. None of your seven senior brothers has chosen this path. While they combine the strengths of the first two types—both powerful and effective at advancing mana—cultivating them comes with numerous harsh restrictions and immense difficulty. The process is extremely dangerous, and one wrong step can lead to eternal damnation. Your master's wife cultivates a top-tier technique, and even with such caution, she nearly died. Unless one's talent far exceeds others, cultivating them is not much different from suicide."

"I do have two or three top-tier techniques in my possession, but do you believe you could succeed in cultivating them? Of course, since this technique is compensation for you, if you insist on choosing a top-tier method, I will give it to you. But any danger or difficulty that arises will be yours to solve alone."

Li Huayuan clearly did not approve of Han Li choosing the last type, so he warned him in advance.

Han Li furrowed his brow and sank into deep thought. This was indeed a difficult choice.

But before long, he raised his head, his eyes calm—he had clearly made his decision.

"Master, please forgive my impertinence. Before I state my request, may I ask what technique you cultivate?" Han Li suddenly asked.

"Heh heh. Your master cultivates the top-tier technique True Yang Art. But I myself possess a Triple Yang Constitution, second only to a Heavenly Spiritual Root. Cultivating this technique is like a fish in water, and it suits me far better than any other method. Otherwise, how could I have formed a golden core?" Li Huayuan said with pride, though he had not expected Han Li to ask such a question.

"Disciple understands. Then I choose the second type of technique," Han Li said calmly.

"The second type?"

Li Huayuan's expression shifted slightly, but he quickly recovered and looked at Han Li with a thoughtful gaze, as if reassessing him. The young woman also showed great interest.

"Choosing the second type... what can I say? Your determination to cultivate is commendable, and I am gratified. But you should know that even 'easy to cultivate and quick to advance' applies only to those with good aptitude. Even among those with outstanding talent, only a minority can reach the late Foundation Establishment stage by cultivating the second type. So I still lean toward the first type. Although your chances of forming a core would be slim, it would at least allow you to stand tall among Foundation Establishment cultivators and not be bullied. In truth, no matter which technique one cultivates, how many can actually form a core? I remember back when..."

Li Huayuan had intended to persuade Han Li, but as he spoke, he seemed to recall some past events, and his mood turned heavy. Gradually, he fell silent.

Seeing this, the young woman sighed softly and said to Han Li:

"Han Li, have you truly thought this through? Do you really want to cultivate this type of technique? While your choice does not quite align with what your master and I had in mind, if your resolve to cultivate is truly this firm, your master naturally will not oppose you. If you were overconfident and insisted on a top-tier technique, we would still agree, but it would greatly disappoint us. That would no longer be a question of determination but of reaching for something far beyond your grasp."

"Exactly. Your master's wife has spoken my thoughts. I will say no more. I will ask you only once more: have you truly decided?" Li Huayuan snapped back to attention just in time to hear his wife's words and nodded in agreement.

"Yes, Disciple's mind is made up." After quietly listening to Li Huayuan and his wife's words, Han Li said in a grave voice.

"Mn. Since you have made up your mind, come with me to the library. My wife, please wait here a moment. Han Li and I will return shortly." Seeing this, Li Huayuan said no more and rose to lead Han Li out, leaving his wife behind.

The library was not far from the main hall, nor was it large—merely an ordinary low stone chamber. But the entire chamber was protected by a blazing red barrier that no one else could enter.

Li Huayuan walked up to the barrier and casually traced a line across it with a single finger. The barrier split open into an opening several meters wide, just enough for the two to pass through side by side.

He then easily pushed open the stone door and led Han Li inside.

Once inside, Han Li's eyes widened. Various jade slips, pages, boxes, and books—over fifty or sixty items—floated in the air, emitting strange lights of every color. These were the cultivation techniques Li Huayuan had collected over several centuries through various means.

"I have placed restrictions on every item here. If anyone other than myself or my wife tries to take them, they will immediately trigger the chamber's formation and be trapped alive." Li Huayuan explained with some pride, but Han Li detected a note of warning in his tone and nodded repeatedly to show he understood.

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Reading Guide Decoding

Han Li Picks His Path – The Three-Type Technique Lecture

Cultural / Xianxia Notes

The Three-Type Technique Hierarchy: This is one of the most concrete explanations of the cultivation system's internal logic in the novel so far. The first type (combat-focused, slow mana) is the survivalist path—for those who know they'll never reach the peak, so they optimize for the fights they'll have now. The second type (mana-focused, weak combat) is the climber's path—for those willing to sacrifice short-term power for the distant hope of a breakthrough. The third type (top-tier, everything) is the genius's gamble—and it's explicitly stated that even Li Huayuan, a Core Formation elder, only succeeded because of his rare constitution. This isn't just world-building; it's a direct reflection of Han Li's psychology. He knows his roots are terrible. He knows direct combat will always be an uphill battle. So he chooses the path that maximizes his one advantage: his patience and long-term planning.

The "Thank-You-for-Teaching" Gift: Li Huayuan's compensation to Han Li is framed as "the technique I owe you for teaching your junior siblings." This is a classic Mortal Stream institution: a senior master's obligation is not an abstract moral debt, but a concrete, transactional obligation that must be discharged without losing face. Li Huayuan is a calculator. He gives Han Li exactly what was promised, but he also makes sure to warn him, test him, and push him toward a "safer" choice. He's not being cruel; he's being prudent—and that's exactly the kind of master Han Li needs at this stage.

Chapter Overview

This is the big one, folks. After all the setup—the promise from Li Huayuan, the face-off with the blood-red pythons, the narrow escape from that terrifying cultivator—we finally get to the payoff. Chapter 239 is where Han Li steps up to claim his compensation from his Core Formation master, and the choice he makes will define the entire next phase of his cultivation journey. No combat, no life-or-death escapes, no dramatic chases. Just Han Li, sitting across from his master and his master's wife, and thinking. Hard. It's a masterclass in the Mortal Stream's "quiet victory" phase: not every win is a blade through an enemy's heart; some are made with a calm voice and a patient, long-term calculation. Buckle up, because this chapter is all about the decision.

Key Plot Points

Li Huayuan doesn't waste time. As soon as Han Li stands before him, he cuts to the chase: speak your wish. Han Li, who has already made up his mind before even stepping through the door, asks for a cultivation technique. No treasures, no pills, no shortcuts—just the right path forward. Li Huayuan isn't surprised; he even smirks at his wife as if to say "I told you so." But before granting the request, he must first check Han Li's spiritual roots. And the result is... grim.

Han Li has four-attribute false spiritual roots, with no metal affinity. Li Huayuan is visibly taken aback. His wife studies Han Li with renewed interest. But here's where the chapter gets interesting: instead of just handing over a technique, Li Huayuan launches into a full lecture on the three types of cultivation methods in this world. The first type: average mana speed, but powerful combat arts that let a cultivator punch above their weight—the path favored by those who know they'll never form a core. The second type: fast mana advancement, easy bottlenecks, but weak combat abilities—the choice of those who dream of the higher realms. And the third type: the legendary top-tier techniques that have everything—but are so dangerous they're practically suicide for anyone without monstrous talent. Li Huayuan and his wife name-drop some heavy context here: his wife cultivates a top-tier technique, and it nearly killed her.

Han Li asks a sharp question: "Master, what technique do you cultivate?" Li Huayuan proudly admits he cultivates a top-tier technique, the True Yang Art, but adds that he has a Triple Yang Constitution, second only to a Heavenly Spiritual Root. This gives Han Li the calibration he needs. He calmly declares his choice: the second type. The "fast advancement, weak combat" path. Li Huayuan is visibly moved, even nostalgic, as if reminded of his own ambitions. His wife steps in with a gentle but firm check: are you sure? Han Li is. The chapter ends with Li Huayuan leading him into a heavily restricted library, filled with dozens of floating jade slips and books—his master's centuries-long collection of techniques.

Reading Guide

Pay attention to Li Huayuan's tone when he describes the first type of technique: "cultivators who know they have no hope of forming a core in this lifetime mostly choose this type." This is a loaded statement. He's testing Han Li indirectly—seeing if his disciple has ambition or if he's content to be a mid-tier bully. And Han Li's response? He asks about Li Huayuan's own technique first. That's the key move. Instead of being swayed by his master's warning, he gathers intelligence: "What path did you take, and why did it work for you?" Then, after calibrating against that data, he makes his choice. This is pure Han Li: never emotional, always strategic. Also, note the wife's role. She's not just decoration—she's a counterweight to Li Huayuan's nostalgia and a voice of practical caution. Her gentle but firm questioning ("Have you truly thought this through?") mirrors the same paternal-but-ruthless dynamic that defines the Mortal Stream's best master-disciple relationships. This chapter is a slow burn, but it's the kind of burn that builds a foundation for hundreds of chapters to come.