Upon learning of Ling Xiao’s true potential, Master Baiyun spared no effort in nurturing him.
Although a large amount of resources had previously been wasted on Ming Tian and Zuo Leng, since they didn’t focus on physical cultivation, there were still about ten Qianyuan Bone-Changing Pills left.
Combined with nearly five hundred mid-grade spirit stones and about one hundred high-grade spirit stones, it was more than enough for Ling Xiao to significantly boost his cultivation before heading to the Yuehua Sect.
With the Qianyuan Bone-Changing Pills, Ling Xiao naturally focused on cultivating <Nine-Turn Golden Body Art>.
His two clones were assigned to cultivate <Snow Lotus True Solution> and <Soul Dice>.
<Snow Lotus True Solution> needed no explanation—it was currently his most powerful unarmed attack method, and once mastered to perfection, it could automatically evolve into a Mortal martial art.
<Soul Dice> relied on comprehension, so pills and the like weren’t much help. Letting a clone slowly grasp it was sufficient.
His main body, of course, concentrated on <Nine-Turn Golden Body Art>.
Ever since learning that there was an even stronger technique above <Nine-Turn Golden Body Art>, his motivation to cultivate had surged.
During this seclusion, Master Baiyun stayed by his side the entire time.
This gave Ling Xiao the confidence to take three Qianyuan Bone-Changing Pills at once.
Even if something went wrong, with a Mortal Realm martial artist assisting, he had no reason to fear.
This was the benefit of having a master.
The Qianyuan Bone-Changing Pill’s effects were extremely potent. A single pill could make one wish for death, as the bones throughout the body felt like they were shattering and reforming. The pain was so excruciating it made life feel unbearable.
Taking three at once made the effects even more terrifying.
Most people wouldn’t dare attempt it.
But Ling Xiao had not only cultivated <Nine-Turn Golden Body Art> to the ninth turn, allowing him to repair his body with golden energy, but he had also reached the third layer of <Mountain and River Martial Soul>, which greatly accelerated his injury recovery.
With Master Baiyun, a Mortal Realm martial artist, guarding him, he dared to take this bold risk.
Three days later.
With Master Baiyun’s help, he endured a hellish ordeal and successfully dissolved the terrifying medicinal power of the Qianyuan Bone-Changing Pills.
However, fully absorbing and digesting it would still take some time.
By then, Master Baiyun had left, as Ling Xiao’s next task was merely to absorb the residual medicinal power and recover his body.
His presence was no longer necessary.
Shi Lei had left Yunkong City the previous day, likely returning to the Elephant Clan.
Dai Yuling and Leng Mei were at critical moments in their cultivation, and Master Baiyun couldn’t favor one over the others, so he went to guard them.
He didn’t want to repeat past mistakes, so he now strove to treat each disciple with utmost fairness.
The effects of the three Qianyuan Bone-Changing Pills were astonishing, directly pushing Ling Xiao’s <Nine-Turn Golden Body Art> to the peak of the third layer!
Breaking through to the fourth layer likely wouldn’t take much longer.
He still had seven or eight Qianyuan Bone-Changing Pills left, which, if used entirely, should enable a breakthrough.
But he couldn’t rush it yet—his body needed to adapt to its current level of resilience first.
He was eager to improve his strength, but he understood that some things couldn’t be hurried.
Additionally, the three Qianyuan Bone-Changing Pills brought an extra benefit: his cultivation had advanced from the late stage of Martial Vein Eighth Layer to its peak, bringing him ever closer to Martial Vein Ninth Layer.
At this point, there were only twenty days left until the Yuehua Sect’s recruitment.
Master Baiyun had said that traveling from Yunkong City to the Yuehua Sect would take at least four or five days, and if anything happened along the way, it could take even longer.
Thus, he reminded his three disciples to set out ten days in advance.
This left Ling Xiao with just ten days to improve.
During these ten days, Ling Xiao focused on consolidating his <Nine-Turn Golden Body Art> cultivation while continuing to train <Snow Lotus True Solution> and <Soul Dice>.
Nine days later.
Ling Xiao felt his body had fully adapted to the peak state of the third layer of <Nine-Turn Golden Body Art>.
He had also finally comprehended the third form of <Soul Dice>—Impermanence Strangle.
When executing this palm technique, soul force would automatically synergize, causing the enemy to hallucinate, as if being apprehended by the Black and White Impermanence from the underworld.
This palm technique continued to inflict both physical and mental torment on enemies, an effect so terrifying that even many Mortal martial arts couldn’t achieve it.
Furthermore, after absorbing the experience of the Mortal martial arts displayed during Heisuo and Master Baiyun’s battle that day, he successfully perfected the second move of <Snow Lotus True Solution>, “Meltwater.”
The first move, Flying Snow, was incredibly fast and had a decent freezing effect.
The second move, Meltwater, could create a strange force field, causing opponents to lose balance and control. Once this move was used, opponents slightly weaker than him wouldn’t even be able to get close to his body.
Beyond that, Ling Xiao gained an unexpected harvest: the golden dragon cells in his body had awakened to a total of twenty.
In other words, relying solely on these twenty golden dragon cells, he had an additional two thousand pounds of strength compared to ordinary martial artists.
For martial artists below the Mortal Realm, this was simply heaven-defying.
Even Master Baiyun, who had just broken through to the Mortal Realm, had a total strength of no more than ten thousand pounds.
What did an extra two thousand pounds of strength mean?
Satisfied with his progress, Ling Xiao went to find Master Baiyun.
At that time, Dai Yuling and Leng Mei were still in seclusion.
According to Master Baiyun, Dai Yuling had broken through to the peak of Martial Vein Eighth Layer, while Leng Mei had advanced to the early stage of Martial Vein Eighth Layer.
They were likely close to emerging, currently consolidating their cultivation.
Ling Xiao was genuinely happy for his two friends’ progress.
“Master, I have some questions and hope you can clarify them!”
Since Dai Yuling and Leng Mei hadn’t yet emerged, and they couldn’t set out for the Yuehua Sect yet, Ling Xiao took the opportunity to raise some doubts he had.
“Oh? Go ahead.”
Master Baiyun had finally regained some of his vigor, and his spirits had improved considerably.
Though a seven-star potential wasn’t the best in the Twelve Sects, as long as it surpassed Ming Tian and Demon Flame Heavenly Sovereign, that was enough.
He firmly believed Ling Xiao could accomplish what he had once dreamed of but failed to achieve.
“Master, you previously said there’s a stronger technique above <Nine-Turn Golden Body Art>, but I don’t quite understand. It’s already a Mortal martial art, and likely a strong one at that. How could there be an even stronger defensive martial art above it?”
Master Baiyun smiled. “That’s a good question. Well, since the other two have emerged, I’ll explain once they’re here.”
“Of course.”
Ling Xiao nodded.
Moments later, Dai Yuling and Leng Mei arrived at the True Spirit Hall.
Master Baiyun gestured for them to sit, then said, “In your understanding, are there only two types of martial arts: secular martial arts and Mortal martial arts?”
All three nodded.
“In fact, so-called secular martial arts are castrated versions, simplified and stripped down to suit ordinary people’s practice. They don’t even count as a proper martial art tier.”
