Mortal Bones

After selecting the martial skills, Xu Taiping spent another ten merit coins to purchase a fine steel Yan Yu knife, a hornwood bow, and over a hundred arrows.

"Master Xuanjing, I've made my selections."

Actually, Xu Taiping had wanted to purchase a movement technique, but the cheapest ones were priced at over three hundred merit coins, which he couldn't afford.

"Goods selected are non-returnable. At noon tomorrow, a spiritual bird will deliver these items to Qingzhu Courtyard. Please prepare your merit coins," the cold voice of the mirror spirit rang out again.

"Thank you for your help, Master Xuanjing," Xu Taiping bowed respectfully at the mirror.

That evening, at Qingzhu Courtyard.

In the quiet courtyard, the warm afternoon sun shone through the window, casting its light on Xu Taiping's face, which was covered in sweat.

At this moment, Xu Taiping had his eyes tightly shut, sitting cross-legged on his bed, with streams of lead-colored mist spilling from his body, gathering at the top of his head.

He was fully immersed in his cultivation, with only the thought of advancing in mind.

According to the teachings of Ziyang True Monarch, practicing during the hours of Zi, Wu, and You (early morning, noon, and evening) could achieve maximum efficiency, so Xu Taiping made it a routine to lock the courtyard doors and sit in meditation during these times.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, a thunderous sound of Qi resonated from within Xu Taiping's body.

The lead-colored mist around him suddenly scattered, and pure white mist, as white as snow, began rising from him, gathering at the top of his head again.

If there were any practitioners of the "Remnant Sunset Art" present, they would instantly recognize that this was the sign of a breakthrough from the Dew Condensation Phase to the Frost Transformation Phase—"cleansing the lead mist."

A moment later, Xu Taiping opened his eyes, filled with surprise.

He hadn't expected to break through to the Frost Transformation Phase today, as Ziyang True Monarch had told him that it would take at least ten more days to break through.

"Could it be that using the Remnant Sunset True Qi while battling the wolf demon sped up my breakthrough?" Xu Taiping wondered.

"Xu Taiping of Qingzhu Courtyard, are you in?" A familiar voice suddenly came from outside the room—White-Headed Eagle, Bai Hong.

"Young one, your items have arrived."

Just as Xu Taiping stepped outside, he saw the spiritual bird, Bai Hong, crouching at the courtyard entrance, a large wooden crate sealed with a wax stamp placed before it.

"Thank you, Uncle Bai," Xu Taiping said happily, walking up to him.

"Little one, making merit is not easy. At the end of the year, you'll still have to pay the sect's annual fee. Save as much as you can," Bai Hong kindly reminded him.

"Don't worry, Uncle Bai. I'm aware of it. These are just some weapons and martial skills for self-defense," Xu Taiping said with a smile.

Bai Hong's friendly gesture warmed Xu Taiping's heart.

"As long as you are careful," Bai Hong nodded.

After yesterday's transaction regarding the wolf demon's bones, Bai Hong's opinion of Xu Taiping had improved, and he no longer saw him as just a stranger from the outer sect.

"I noticed your true Qi seems more refined than yesterday. Could it be that you've made a breakthrough?" Bai Hong suddenly looked at Xu Taiping with a serious gaze.

"Yes, Uncle Bai, my Remnant Sunset True Qi has reached the Frost Transformation Phase. After I break through to the Icy Phase, I will be able to try breaking through to the Opening Door Stage," Xu Taiping didn't hide anything from Bai Hong.

"Not bad," Bai Hong nodded approvingly.

He had seen how hard Xu Taiping worked, so this breakthrough wasn't surprising.

"Continue with your cultivation. Even once you reach the Icy Phase, it's only the qualification to break through to the Opening Door Stage. Don't become complacent," Bai Hong advised him.

"I will remember your teachings, Uncle Bai," Xu Taiping said seriously, bowing to Bai Hong.

"Go back to your cultivation. I need to accompany Elder Sifeng on an outing. I might not return for a few months," Bai Hong said, spreading his wings and flying up into the air.

"Accompany Elder Sifeng outside... Could it be to exterminate demons in the mortal world?" Xu Taiping wondered excitedly, looking at Bai Hong's departing figure.

According to the teachings in the transmission jade slip, disciples and elders of the Seven Peaks would receive many tasks from outside the mountain each month. Completing these tasks would earn them a large number of merit rewards.

"Just one external sect task could reward over a thousand merit coins. How enviable," Xu Taiping thought, but then quickly reminded himself.

"Xu Taiping, don't be overly ambitious."

After realizing his shift in mindset, Xu Taiping quickly reminded himself and then carried the wooden crate back into the courtyard.

Five days later.

At the back courtyard of Qingzhu Courtyard.

"Boom!"

Surrounded by a layer of faint frosty Qi, Xu Taiping had been gathering energy for a long time before launching a punch at a boulder in front of him, which was as tall as a person.

The moment his fist struck, in addition to the sound of the wind breaking, one could even faintly hear the sound of a bull's roar.

"Bang!"

With a loud crash, the massive boulder was punched through by Xu Taiping's small fist.

But Xu Taiping didn't stop there. After throwing that punch, he immediately steadied himself, adjusted his breath, and began alternating his fists.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

Xu Taiping's fists, one after another, struck the boulder like a herd of charging bulls.

"Boom!"

Finally, the boulder, which had been as tall as a person, was completely shattered into rubble by Xu Taiping's fists.

However, after shattering the boulder, Xu Taiping's true Qi was completely drained, and the icy Qi surrounding him, which had formed a semi-transparent spherical light shield, dissipated.

"Ha, ha, ha..."

After pulling his fists back, Xu Taiping bent over with his hands on his knees, gasping for air.

What he had just performed was the Qing Niu Fist he purchased from the Western Wind Sect's weapons library, including two of its special moves—"Ox Horn Shatter Mountain" and "Stampede Bull Formation."

"Looks like with my current level of true Qi, I can only perform Ox Horn Shatter Mountain and Stampede Bull Formation once each," Xu Taiping said, still breathing heavily.

Since this martial art was simple and brutal, after practicing for a few days, Xu Taiping was able to perform it decently, but the special moves still drained too much true Qi.

Even though the Remnant Sunset True Qi recovers quickly, Xu Taiping could only practice it two or three times a day before his Qi ran out.

"That's enough for today. I still need to remove the weeds from the Nine-Leaf White Purple Grass later when the sun is lower," Xu Taiping wiped his sweat with a towel.

With two more martial techniques to train, Xu Taiping's schedule had become very tight, wishing he could stretch one hour into two.

But after the breakthrough to the Frost Transformation Phase, his energy had greatly increased. Sometimes, even after two or three days without sleep, he didn't feel too tired, so the time available for cultivation had increased.

"Awoo!"

Just as Xu Taiping was thinking about whether to prepare some food, he suddenly heard a wolf's howl.

"It sounds like it's coming from Sheep Deer Mountain. Could there be another wolf demon there?" Xu Taiping thought, quickly running out of the back courtyard, then leaping onto the courtyard wall and then to the roof.

4o mini