Chapter 13

"Is this the top disciple of our academy for the past few years? This is the second time we've met today."

Just as Zhuang Wudao stepped out of the Linghuan Pavilion's door, a red-robed girl stood behind the window railing on the third floor, her gaze once again falling on the figure hurrying away downstairs with interest.

"Actually daring to challenge the Daoye Heavenly Path, this person is quite interesting!"

"He is indeed interesting. He will be seventeen in about a month. An orphan, he started living on the streets at the age of six and is now one of the leaders of a small gang in the northern city. However, at this age, he is only at the Bone Marrow Cultivation stage, his talent is likely just fifth-grade. Even if we overestimate, he can barely reach fourth-grade. To dare speak of challenging the three Daoye Heavenly Paths, it's truly a matter of not knowing life from death."

The middle-aged woman behind the girl sneered, her voice full of ridicule: "Those who can pass the Immortal Ascension Path, whether in cultivation talent or martial and Daoist abilities, are all exceptional. Even if they can only survive for ten days, they will be regarded as pillars of the Lichen Sect and directly taken in as direct disciples. Their future is bright and promising. However, most people don't know that every year, hundreds, if not thousands, of cultivators die on the Daoye Heavenly Path, many of them being top-grade geniuses—"

"Enough, enough!"

The red-robed girl laughed, waving her small hand: "What use is it for you to tell me these things, Aunt Qin? The one who will challenge the Daoye Heavenly Path isn't me. But hearing you say this, I find him even more intriguing. An orphan who had to fend for himself from the age of six, not only surviving in Yuecheng but also becoming the top disciple of an academy, and just one step away from becoming a Qi Cultivation practitioner. Regardless of other things, this person's character is undoubtedly resilient and ambitious. Don't you think, Aunt Qin, that Zhuang Wudao is actually quite suitable?"

The woman in the green dress was moved and recalled the Lichen Sect's grand inspection of the Dongwu Kingdom. She fell into deep thought: "Miss, do you mean to plot against the Gu Yue clan in the eastern city? If so, the turmoil will be significant—"

"This is a rare opportunity, and I can't bear to give it up."

The red-robed girl placed her hands behind her back and gazed into the distance. At that moment, her aura seemed to look down upon the world.

"Only through this turmoil can we achieve our goals. The rest is not worth worrying about."

Aunt Qin still frowned, uncertain: "With this person's abilities, he may not meet your expectations!"

"Making those few people headache is enough. Success would be a pleasant surprise, and failure wouldn't matter."

A sweet smile appeared on the girl's fresh and innocent face: "Of course, before that, I still need to test Zhuang Wudao myself to see if he has the qualifications. To be able to kill one Bone Marrow Cultivation practitioner and three Blood Cultivation practitioners without a scratch, I wonder what level his martial arts have reached? Does he have the qualifications to be an opponent for that person?"

***

When Zhuang Wudao hurried back to his residence, he finally had the leisure to open the small package Qin Feng gave him in the morning. His face was full of surprise.

"It's actually a Qi Nourishing Pill and Bone Strengthening Tendon Pill—"

The Qi Nourishing Pill is a pill used by Qi Cultivation practitioners to cultivate true essence. The small package contained a whole bottle, with a total of twelve pills. The Bone Strengthening Tendon Pill had more than thirty pills, which could strengthen tendons and bones and fortify the body. Just one of these pills was equivalent to ten days of hard training with the Tiger Subduing Fist for Zhuang Wudao.

These pills are commonly used by Qi Cultivation practitioners. However, even Bone Marrow Cultivation practitioners can use them, and the effects are even more significant.

Many wealthy young masters rely on these spiritual pills to enter the Qi Cultivation stage with varying talents.

Zhuang Wudao couldn't help but feel a pang of pain, thinking of the large package he gave to Yan Jun, which was ten times heavier. How many spiritual pills were in there? Qin Feng, the wastrel!

Sighing, Zhuang Wudao quickly washed up and lay down on the bed with his sword in his arms.

But he couldn't help thinking about Yan Jun's words, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. It wasn't until the fourth drum beat that he gradually drifted off to sleep.

It was the same dream, filled with colorful mist. A girl with an indistinct face was suspended in mid-air.

"You've come!"

A voice like a clear spring in a valley sounded, and the girl's figure descended, standing beside him.

Zhuang Wudao was surprised to find that he could now clearly see the girl's face, which was even more beautiful than the red-robed girl he met in the afternoon.

"I just saw your fist technique today, which has improved significantly compared to yesterday. After seeing me use it once, you remembered it perfectly. Your talent may be a bit lacking, but you have a good memory and are good at understanding. You might not need half a month, but just ten days to master the Dragon Subduing Tiger. Indeed, you are worthy of being the sword master chosen by Qingyun—"

Zhuang Wudao was slightly surprised. The girl's words sounded strange, but he couldn't quite pinpoint why. Seeing 'Yun'er' look at him as if he were livestock, he felt quite uncomfortable, and his tone became somewhat stiff: "Since you know my fist technique has improved, you must have seen the external cultivation techniques I chose today. Which one do you think is the most suitable?"

"At least four of them, your future physical achievements will not be inferior to the Golden Bell Cover!"

'Yun'er' was indifferent, her eyes always calm and clear: "You have expectations and want to use my power to cultivate the Bull Demon Yuan Body?"

Zhuang Wudao was extremely embarrassed. Even though his face was already as thick as a city wall from living on the streets, he still blushed. If he had a face in this dream—

He indeed had such thoughts. Since the girl said she could help him cultivate an external cultivation technique within three months, Zhuang Wudao naturally hoped to cultivate the top-notch martial art, the Bull Demon Yuan Body. If he was going to cultivate an external technique, he wanted the best.

He was also stimulated by the red-robed girl today. She was probably younger than him but had already cultivated the supreme technique, the Armor-Piercing Sharp Finger, which was truly enviable.

He had only lived for ten years but had experienced the world's myriad aspects. His character was still that of a young man, and seeing someone his age with greater strength, he naturally felt competitive.

"Having aspirations and a competitive spirit is not a bad thing!"

Luo Qingyun shook her head: "The Bull Demon Yuan Body is indeed excellent, the best and most suitable among external cultivation techniques, even surpassing the Golden Bell Cover. I wonder who created it? After the seven calamities, there are still such extraordinary talents. Once the Bull Demon Body is achieved, it can be nourished by earth qi and star power, protected by magnetic qi, and is the best constitution for practicing the Sword Essence Technique in the future."

Zhuang Wudao listened, gradually discarding the hope in his heart. He was indeed too greedy. The Bull Demon Yuan Body was indeed good, but the cultivation conditions were too strict. Not only did it require magnetic qi, but it also needed decades of persistent effort. How could it be completed in just three months?

"In my view, this is the easiest one for you to cultivate now! Magnetic qi places are easy to find, mostly at the convergence of mineral veins. I sense one nearby. The hardest part is using earth qi and magnetic power to cultivate the body, which takes decades."

Hearing this, Zhuang Wudao inwardly said, "Indeed." It seemed the Bull Demon Yuan Body was not meant for him.

But then he heard Yun'er continue: "But I can help you! The Qingyun Sword has gathered spirit for thousands of years, though it hasn't fully recovered, it can still assist you. It's best to complete this external cultivation technique within these three days. Before practicing the Sword Essence Technique, you need to strengthen your body, and cultivating the body is urgent. However, such rapid cultivation can only happen once, unless you can find enough heavenly and earthly spirits to help me recover."

Zhuang Wudao was stunned. Completing the 'Bull Demon Yuan Body' in three days? Was Yun'er joking with him?

But he saw the serious expression in her eyes. Even if she was deceiving him, he would know the result in just three days, so there was no need for such a deception.

In just three days, he would have the 'Bull Demon Body,' which is said to be impervious to blades and spears and difficult to injure with spiritual weapons. It was a superior technique that surpassed 99% of the world's martial arts and could rival the 'Armor-Piercing Sharp Finger' practiced by the girl.

He still couldn't believe it, but he had a vague feeling that it was related to the Sword Essence Technique Yun'er taught him.

After just one hour of practice today, he felt a slight pain in his inner meridians, which was particularly uncomfortable.

"I wonder if the sword master can go out tomorrow? I sense a magnetic qi vein a hundred miles away!"

Zhuang Wudao frowned. Tomorrow? Tomorrow was the day their yet-to-be-named 'Jianyi Hall' would take over the entire Yuhuan Street.

But after a moment's thought, Zhuang Wudao nodded: "Then let's choose tomorrow!"

Although it was a pity to miss it, compared to the Bull Demon Yuan Body, the latter was more important. With Yan Jun and Mr. Huang as his backing, there should be no danger.

Before those people figure out how Shi Hu and the others died, they won't act rashly.

Leaving the city for just three days should be safe. When he returns, he can just catch up with the small event.

Hearing this, Yun'er's lips curved into a satisfied smile, and she continued: "I have also seen the Xingyi Liuhe and the Great Tumbling Hand. They are roughly similar to what I remember, but some parts are missing, and the annotations are incorrect. Indeed, the true transmission was lost in the great calamity. I will demonstrate them to you later, and you can practice these two sets of boxing techniques along with the Dragon Subduing Tiger."

Zhuang Wudao frowned, silent for a moment, then bit his lip and mustered the courage to speak: "Do I have to practice these two boxing techniques?"

Top martial arts only need one to be cultivated. Clearly, he could enter the Qi Cultivation stage in a month or even twenty days, but he was reluctant to delay because of this. He couldn't resist the temptation of a significant increase in strength.

He not only wanted to become a Qi Cultivation practitioner within three months but also wanted to stabilize at this stage.