There was silence for a while.
"Has it been a year and a half already?" Yan Qingwu asked. "Why haven't you started cultivating yet?"
"I feel like I can't cultivate," Wang Mu answered truthfully.
Yan Qingwu pondered for a moment, then said, "The Hundred Refinement Body Technique hasn't been cultivated by anyone for many years. I'd actually forgotten that this skill places extremely high demands on all aspects of a cultivator's body. For ordinary people, without over a decade of honing, it's hard to even get started."
"Since that's the case..." Wang Mu began.
"Yes..." Yan Qingwu affirmed.
"You performed a great service for our Sect today by thwarting the demoness. Although you are not a disciple of our Sect, you can still be rewarded."
As she finished speaking, Yan Qingwu waved her sleeve, and a small medicine bottle adorned with blue porcelain flowers fell into Wang Mu's hand.
"This is a Bone Refining Pill, typically used by disciples in the Qi Cultivation Stage. It can help cultivators cleanse their marrow and improve their constitution. You are not a cultivator, so use one pill a year; two should be enough."
"Cultivate diligently, and strive to reach Ten Layers by the Sect's disciple recruitment assessment next year," Yan Qingwu offered a simple encouragement.
Seeing this, Su Yu immediately looked at Yan Qingwu, his eyes filled with hope…
I also thwarted the demoness...
"You were bewitched by the demoness, and your Clear Heart Technique is not yet perfected, causing those children's spirits to be damaged. It will take them at least over a month to recover fully."
Yan Qingwu glanced at Su Yu. "Go back and report to the Disciplinary Elder. You are to receive a three-month spiritual cultivation penalty at Gufeng Cliff!"
Su Yu: "..."
Wang Mu: "..."
Su Yu sighed internally.
I'm the actual Sect disciple here... Elder Yan really isn't biased at all... And it seems like she's a bit too nice to this Brother Wang Mu... That Bone Refining Pill, even though it's only top-grade, isn't easy to obtain within the Sect.
However, Su Yu could understand.
It was my own fault for being charmed by that demoness.
Wang Mu, too, felt a little awkward.
"Thank you... Elder Yan..." Wang Mu pocketed the medicine.
"Mm, that will be all," Yan Qingwu nodded slightly.
Then, as if she recalled something, she added, "By the way, if you encounter a demoness from the Fengyue Sect again in the future, just run. The ones you encountered today didn't have high Cultivation. If you encounter some with extremely high Cultivation, their Charming Techniques are profound and unfathomable. You would find them difficult to resist; do not force a confrontation."
"Moreover, those demonesses are masters of disguise. If they truly want to target someone, they will usually study your character and preferences diligently, adopting disguises and pretenses. This might give you the false impression of having met your destined one. You must be especially wary at such times."
After fighting for hundreds of years, both sects must know each other very well, Wang Mu thought. Yet, this setup of the Fengyue Sect, particularly what Yan Qingwu mentioned, felt a bit strange to him.
After Yan Qingwu spoke, she transformed into a sword light and disappeared on the spot.
Coming without a shadow, going without a trace.
"Brother Wang Mu, I shall also take my leave!"
Su Yu summoned a blue-edged longsword and recited a mantra. The longsword immediately grew larger and thicker. He then placed the children on the sword and waved at Wang Mu, saying, "I should be one of the examiners for the Sect's disciple recruitment assessment. Make sure to perform well then!"
After speaking, Su Yu rode the longsword, drifting away leisurely.
So stylish... Wang Mu watched. I wonder when I'll be able to perform Sword Flight...
What a bountiful harvest this time! Wang Mu thought, feeling the medicine bottle in his pocket.
Two special elixirs and a peach.
They were all items that could significantly enhance his attributes.
In the subsequent time, Wang Mu continued hunting.
Perhaps it was because he had managed to hit that Xuan Gu; today, after using his Action Points, his proficiency increased rapidly, allowing him to advance 3 levels directly.
His Hunting skill reached Level 7.
At least I can say I've battled these rare Fierce Beasts now... This experience wasn't easy to come by.
The Village Chief had said that those legendary Fierce Beasts were creatures one might not encounter even once in several years.
When I get back this time, I really need to focus on improving myself. I'll strive to raise both Hunting and Mining to Level 15 or higher by the end of this year.
There were still more than seven months left in the year.
With his current overall abilities, it should be feasible if he used his Action Points.
That way, once my attributes meet the requirements, I can start cultivating the Hundred Refinement Body Technique next year...
At sunset, Wang Mu returned to the village, ending his day of labor.
I'll eat the peach first... The sooner I eat it, the sooner I can enjoy it!
Gazing at the basin-sized peach, a unique, fruity fragrance wafted to his nose.
The peach pit can be planted too. I'll save it after I'm done eating... and plant it when I get the chance!
Wang Mu washed the Purple Peach and bit into it.
Damn, this is amazing!
Wang Mu found the taste indescribable; each piece of fruit seemed to pulse with life in his mouth.
An overwhelming Life Force, like a volcanic eruption, burst forth in Wang Mu's mouth before surging throughout his entire body.
Wang Mu felt as if every cell in his body was leaping with joy.
Taking several bites, Wang Mu alternated between gobbling it down and savoring it slowly.
It took him the time it would to drink a cup of tea to finish the entire peach.
After finishing, Wang Mu still wanted more. He felt his whole body brimming with strength, as if his physical being had ascended to another realm.
This feeling is incredible! I feel an urge to go all out...
Wang Mu had never felt such a wonderful sensation before.
This peach was definitely a rare treasure!
Its effects went far beyond what Su Yu had mentioned about boosting vitality and lifespan.
At least, Wang Mu felt that every aspect of his body had improved.
The remaining peach pit was the size of a fist.
Not bad at all... Wang Mu thought, savoring the memory.
Before resting, he checked his condition out of habit.
[Action Points: 1]
[Cultivation: Chopping (15), Fishing (14), Mining (7), Hunting (7), Turtle Breathing and Life Nourishing Skill (10), Tiger Crane Seven Forms (6)]
[Travel: -]
Wang Mu suddenly sat up in bed. Huh? I still have one Action Point left? Strange, I should have used up all of this month's Action Points... Could it be because of that peach? Has it become three points a month now? Fantastic!
Wang Mu got out of bed, quite excited.
Since he still had one point, it was just enough to raise his Tiger Crane Seven Forms to the tenth layer!
Although it was a rudimentary skill, Wang Mu was somewhat obsessive; once he started cultivating something, he felt compelled to max it out!
North of Huangtian Continent, there lay a secluded valley called Fengyue Valley.
The renowned Fengyue Sect of Huangtian Continent was situated within this mysterious valley.
At this moment, somewhere in Fengyue Valley.
"Venerable Lord, today, as per your instructions, I went to handle matters in Anle Village. On the way, passing through Divine Wood Forest, I encountered a particularly interesting mortal!"
"Speak!"
"It went like this..."
...
Slightly interesting...
"In that case, relay my command: have your Senior Sister Gu go and test him personally. If a mere mortal can truly withstand our Sect's superior Charming Technique, he must be a rare genius! We absolutely cannot allow Gu Yun Mountain to get him."
Ah! Asking Senior Sister Gu to charm a mortal... Isn't that using a butcher's cleaver on a chicken? Venerable Lord, I wish to try again...
"What is wrong with you? The three tenets of the Charming Technique state: 'One must not harbor a competitive spirit.' If you continue like this, you will be the one to fall into your own trap. Have you forgotten this?"
I understand. I will go and speak with Senior Sister Gu immediately... It's just... with her level of power, even we, her fellow sisters, can hardly bear it... To use it on a mortal dwelling in the mundane world... is simply too cruel...