Chapter 36

Zhao Yun sat cross-legged, cultivating his body, as still as a rock, his appearance solemn and dignified.

Looking at his physique, flames and lightning intertwined, bones clashing continuously, his body at the Condensation Essence stage had been refined to the extreme—limbs, bones, organs, and meridians all pushed to their limits. This foundation was unmatched by his peers.

The foundation spoken of by the Moon Goddess, he was solidifying to the utmost.

At some point, he finally stopped, exhaling a long breath of turbid air, and a layer of viscous substance appeared on his skin, all impurities refined from within.

"Truly a wonderful feeling."

Zhao Yun smiled, spreading his palm and gently clenching it into a fist. His left hand crackled with thunder, his right hand blazed with fire, the essence of thunder and fire causing the true essence within him to surge.

"Fire can merge with fire."

"Thunder can merge with thunder."

"Can fire and thunder merge?"

Looking at his hands, he muttered, mainly out of curiosity.

Hmm?

While pondering, he suddenly noticed the small purple gourd on the table trembling slightly, a faint light flashing. Though it was just a moment, it did not escape his notice.

"Has the restriction been lifted?"

Zhao Yun lightly exclaimed, picking it up.

Since obtaining the small gourd, he had been refining it daily with heavenly thunder, but there had been no significant changes.

Tonight, however, was the first time it showed any unusual signs.

But when he held it in his hand, there were no further changes.

Zhao Yun examined it for a long time before pulling out the stopper.

Peering inside, he saw mist swirling.

Compared to before, the space had grown significantly, easily able to hold a jar of wine.

"Not bad as a container."

Zhao Yun said, unpacking the bundle and taking out several small jade bottles, each filled with spirit liquid to replenish true essence.

Then, he poured the spirit liquid into the small gourd, over a hundred bottles, yet it was still not full, the inside remaining hazy.

"Just right."

Zhao Yun smiled, hanging the small gourd at his waist. Despite its small size, it had a large capacity, making it more convenient to carry than individual bottles.

By now, the sky was nearly bright.

Zhao Yun packed his belongings, slung a large bundle over his shoulder, and turned to leave, leading a swift horse, galloping out of the city to the deep mountains and forests for cultivation. In the city, there were too many prying eyes, and he did not want his secrets to be known.

The mountains were a good place.

He had bought so many cultivation resources to prepare for this intense training.

As the elders said, it was called seclusion.

Not long after he left, the old man in hemp clothing arrived, his face dark, seeking Zhao Yun to settle accounts. "You little brat, daring to throw an explosive talisman at me."

If Zhao Yun were there, he would have a response: "A grandmaster at the Profound Yang stage, a senior, breaking a promise and cheating a junior, who else should be blown up?"

The old man in hemp clothing ultimately did not find Zhao Yun.

In the end, the rash ones were collectively beaten.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yun had already entered the mountains, like a wild horse freed from its reins. Despite the heavy Longyuan Sword on his back, he moved swiftly, a black shadow darting through the forest, startling flocks of birds and causing the roars of beasts to echo.

When he finally stopped, he was deep in the mountains.

The terrain was hidden, the vegetation lush. Despite it being daytime, the area was dim, like twilight, with very little light, a quiet and secluded place.

Additionally, there was often a misty aura.

It was spirit energy, much more concentrated here than in the ancient city of Wanggu.

The Heavenly Book of Daoism also stated that deep in the mountains, where vegetation is lush, there is abundant spirit energy, as all things have spirit, and plants and trees are nourished by the spirit energy of heaven and earth.

The spirit energy here was even more refined.

Zhao Yun glanced to the side, seeing a small stream nearby.

Freshwater! A necessity for the human body.

"Here it is." Zhao Yun drew the Purple Dawn Sword from his waist, slashing to clear a space, then sprinkled medicinal powder around to repel insects, snakes, and beasts.

Clang! Clang!

Soon, the sound of swords and thunder filled the air as Zhao Yun practiced sword techniques.

The sword technique he used was the Heavenly Thunder Sword Art. The Purple Dawn Sword was sharp, with lightning crackling as he moved, sword qi spreading and leaving marks on the surrounding rocks and trees, many of which were severed.

With his innate talent, he had a deep understanding.

While practicing the Heavenly Thunder Sword Art, he simplified it, discarding flashy moves and focusing on the essence, adding a few new techniques.

By midday, he finally stopped.

Though it was noon, in the dim forest, there was little difference. The vegetation was too dense, the leaves large, blocking the sunlight, making it a good place to cool off.

Zhao Yun took a sip of spirit liquid and sat under an old tree.

He took out a small flying dagger and attached an explosive talisman to it.

Thus, it could explode when thrown.

He did just that, throwing a flying dagger dozens of feet, embedding it in a rock wall.

Boom!

With a thought, he activated the explosive talisman, causing an explosion, sending debris flying. The power was formidable, especially since his explosive talismans were genuine and combined thunder and fire. If there were enough, they could flatten a mountain.

"Good stuff."

Zhao Yun chuckled, taking more flying daggers and explosive talismans, each talisman paired with a dagger, useful for combat, allowing him to throw them from a distance to explode.

After putting these away, he stood up again.

He pulled off his shirt, baring his chest, and climbed a hill. At the summit was an old tree, with rings indicating it was at least a few hundred years old. This would be his training post.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sound echoed as he punched the tree trunk without using true essence.

This was external body cultivation.

The human body stores strength in muscles, bones, and flesh. He aimed to unlock this strength, gradually transforming his body. Over time, his muscles, bones, and flesh would become stronger and more flexible, and his meridians would expand.

Thus, the day passed quietly.

Zhao Yun was exhausted, sitting down with his fists skinned and the old tree dented and stained with his blood.

"I can tell it's going to rain soon."

Zhao Yun took a sip of spirit liquid and looked up at the sky.

He was not just guessing.

The Heavenly Book of Daoism covered a wide range of topics, including meteorology.

After much study, he had grasped some basics.

According to these basics, there would be a thunderstorm within three to five days.

"Such a large bird."

As he watched, he muttered.

In the distant sky, a white cloud approached, or rather, a white crane, its wings spanning seven or eight feet.

It was the largest flying creature he had ever seen.

Zhao Yun thought, "It's so big, it wouldn't even fit in a pot."

Focusing, he stood up.

As it got closer, he saw a person on the crane's back, a woman in a purple Daoist robe, her aura natural and ethereal, looking like a celestial maiden, more accurately, a beautiful matron.

"Is that a spirit beast?" Zhao Yun looked at the crane.

A spirit beast is a tamed creature, like a demon or magical beast, obeying its master's commands. The white crane likely belonged to this category, and the woman in purple was probably its owner.

He had seen spirit beasts before, but none as impressive as this one.

As he watched, the crane flew toward him.

More accurately, its owner had ordered it to come, having noticed someone.

Zhao Yun, seeing this, ran.

In the wilderness, encountering someone of unknown depth, running was the best option.

Whoosh!

He was quick, but the crane was faster, diving from above, leaving a brilliant white trail in the sky, reaching him in an instant.

Zhao Yun stopped, stepping back.

He then saw that, besides the woman in purple, there was another person on the crane's back, a young girl of about fifteen, dressed in a white robe, who had been sleeping. Her posture was not graceful, lying flat and drooling.

"Why are you running?"

The woman in purple said softly, her voice ethereal, matching her flowing robe and hair, looking like a celestial being, detached from the mortal world.

"Urgent... need to urinate." Zhao Yun laughed nervously.

It was not a lie; he was indeed desperate. The woman in purple was very strong, definitely at the Earth Concealment stage, her aura more subtle than the old man in hemp clothing. Being noticed by such a powerful being, any Condensation Essence practitioner would feel the urge to urinate.

"Do you know the way to the ancient city of Wanggu?"

The woman in purple asked, clearly seeking directions.

Zhao Yun pointed in a direction.

The woman in purple did not say more, quickly leaving, the crane flying into the sky, a white trail leading back to the ancient city of Wanggu in half an incense stick's time.

Phew!

Zhao Yun breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a chill.

He then returned to the forest.

Standing too high was not always good; it was safer to stay low.

Night fell quietly.

On a rock wall, Zhao Yun carved a cave, starting a bonfire outside, roasting a wild wolf, large enough for a hearty meal.

After eating, he sat cross-legged.

The forest was quiet at night, the spirit energy abundant, and there were no disturbances.

A night of body cultivation left him refreshed.

In the early morning, before the sky was fully bright, Zhao Yun woke up, stretching and washing at the stream, then taking out his talisman-making supplies.

Explosive talismans were good to have.

Since they were useful, he decided to stock up, just in case.

He regretted not learning more talismans from the Moon Goddess before she fell asleep, such as the immobilizing talisman, a lost art known only to the royal family.

During this time, the sky had called to the Moon Goddess, but received no response.

Three hours of talisman-making produced a thick stack, enough to flatten a small hill.

Clang! Clang!

Then, the sound of swords and thunder filled the air again.

Living in seclusion, his schedule was tight, with a clear routine.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

In the forest, he moved like the wind, the Purple Dawn Sword in hand, his feet swift, leaving trails behind. His sword techniques had improved, and the power of the Heavenly Thunder Sword Art had grown, simplified to its essence.

Wind and thunder were a perfect match.

He was wind, speed; thunder was power, attack. Combined with the Wind God Step, it was a perfect blend of speed and strength, each move a potential killing blow.

When he returned to the hilltop, the sun was high.

At the same old tree, he continued his body cultivation, punching without using true essence, more strength unlocked, the pain in his muscles and bones turning to a tingling sensation.

"It's going to rain."

As the sun set, a cool breeze swept through the forest.

Looking at the sky, dark clouds gathered.

Zhao Yun took a few swigs from the small gourd, thinking, "Within three to five days, there will be a thunderstorm. The study of the Heavenly Book of Daoism was not in vain."